A great man cut down
in the prime of his life
A family and a
community bid
a final farewell

Q LAURA WEBB

THOUSANDS of mourners gathered in
St Mochta’s Church in Dublin 15 this
week to bid a last farewell to the late
Brian Lenihan, who was described as a
great man who was utterly “devoted to
his family” and who “served his country
with honour”.

Brian, once regarded as a future leader
of the country, had fought a brave battle
against pancreatic cancer for 18 months.
On Friday, June 10, surrounded by his
family at his home in the Strawberry
Beds, he tragically lost his fight against
the disease. He was just 52.
His wife, Patricia, son Tom and daughter Clare were warmly applauded as they

walked into the church, showing the
huge esteem the Lenihan family is held
in locally.
Speaking during the ceremony,
former Attorney General Paul Gallagher
described the late Minister as a “master
of all talents” who was an “inspiration to
us all and a huge patriot”.
Full Story on P2, 3, 4 & 7

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

R1

TRIBUTE Ken Whelan, author and former editor of Gazette
A tribute
from the
President

The President of Ireland, Mary
McAleese, said that although
people knew he was battling a
serious illness, the “untimely
death of such a young and
talented public servant is very
distressing for all his family,
friends and colleagues”.

“I first knew Brian
when he was a student
at Trinity College. He
was a brilliant scholar
whose early promise
as a student was fully
vindicated in his subsequent career as a barrister and public representative. His forensic
skills of analysis and
advocacy were put to
great effect as Minister for Children. As
Minister for Finance,
Brian had to confront
challenges, the scale
and gravity of which
were unprecedented in
the history of the State.
Despite his illness, he
faced up to those challenges with extraordinary but characteristic
dignity, courage and
good humour.
“Brian’s death is an
enormous loss to public
life in Ireland. It is particularly devastating for
his family, colleagues
and many friends. My
thoughts and prayers
at this very sad time
are with Brian’s wife
Patricia, his children
Tom and Clare, his
mother Ann and all
the Lenihan family. In
their bereavement, I
hope they will be able
to draw some comfort
from the knowledge
that Brian lived a life of
outstanding personal
integrity and edicated
public service.
Go dtuga Dia leaba
i measc na naomh dá
anam uasal.”

Lenihan: A unique
Q KEN WHELAN

THERE are few Fianna
Fail politicians who will
ever achieve the esteem
in which the Irish public
held Brian Lenihan, and
that number will be nonexistent over the next decade.
Brian Lenihan represented the public service
ethos that was part and
parcel of the party’s brand
during the Lemass and
Lynch eras. That brand
was always central to the
politics of the Lenihan
family.
But this priceless
ethos was sucked out of
the party over the past
20 years as Fianna Fail
let individuals of every
description through the
party’s doors and then
set them to work on the
national economy – the
results of which we see
today in every home in
the land.
In the process these
same individuals ran Fianna Fail into the ground to
a point where now all we
have is a shambles of a
rump party left blubbering about a renewal which
will never occur.
Things might have been
different if Bertie Ahern
and Charlie McCreevy
had the guts to put Brian
Lenihan at the centre of
power during their tenure
at Government Buildings
but then he would have
been too direct for that
regime.
He would have been
much too alert to what
was going on around him
not to recognise the phoney economy that was
being created and much

too straight not to let the
public know of the economic three-card trickery
that was being passed off
as the Celtic Tiger.
When Brian Lenihan should have been
at the centre of power,
Fianna Fail had become,
what his aunt, Mary
O’Rourke, once memorably described as the “ Bertie party”. And you could
never imagine Brian Lenihan being comfortable
with the yahoos in that reinvention of Fianna Fail
who believed that politics
was about lickspittling
their way through the
system and, more importantly, stabbing the right
people in the back.
Ironically, in the end,
Fianna Fail were forced
to put Brian Lenihan at
the centre of power in
desperate attempt to save
both the economy and the
party itself.
This last-ditch strategy
failed – on both countsbut not without an heroic
(and I would say solo)
effort from the West Dublin TD to salvage something from the wreckage.
Yet, Brian Lenihan
himself did not fail, and
the electorate of Dublin
West for sure recognised
that “their man” had done
what Brian himself liked
to call his “patriotic duty”
and re-elected him to the
Dail as the only remaining Dublin Fianna Fail
TD at the last election.
It was a huge compliment to the man from
the Strawberr y Beds
and one which, I am
sure, he hugely appreciated.
Brian Lenihan was a

political patrician – made
more patrician when
compared to the political
dross that paraded around
this country as ministerial material for the past
15 Fianna Fail years, but
he never, ever, forgot “his
people”- the electorate of
Dublin West who put him,
like his late father, into the
Dail.
The Gazette’s direct
dealings with Brian
Lenihan began when
the newspaper group
decided to expand from
Lucan and Clondalkin
into Blanchardtown and
Castleknock some years
ago. No sooner was the
project up and running
than I got a call from
Minister Lenihan for a
parlay: “One o’clock for
lunch in Beckett’s in Leixlip. Is that ok?”
The lunch started at one
and ended some bottles of
wine later at five o’clock
and was dominated by
breezy gossip, knowing
looks, the full starting
price on all the issues in
Dublin West and a firm
undertaking that he, or his
able aide de camp Marian
Quinlan would be available twenty-four-seven
for any enquiries from the
Gazette group.
He and Marian Quinlan were as good as their
promises as long as I was
in the Gazette offices, and
I believe that remained
the case ever since.
Brian Lenihan was a
thoroughly polite man
imbued with a fabulous bonhomie. That, of
course, did not preclude
him from giving you that
mid-distance look when
he actually disagreed with

Minister Lenihan speaking at the launch of the Blanchardstown Gazette in the
Blanchardstown Shopping Centre

you.
I recall once suggesting, over a few libations
in Kenny’s of Lucan with
some home grown intellectuals –including Des
Kelly - that the Government was going to lose
a pending referendum
unless they got the fin-

ger out, pronto-style. He
gave me the look - which
always quietly suggested
the person being looked
at should have a lie down
in a dark room for about
three days - and then told
me not to be so ridiculous,
or words to that effect.
Message received, but to

this day I can’t remember which referendum we
were talking about and
who won. But that’s what
happens when you talk to
intellectuals in Kenny’s.
Brian Lenihan was also
assiduous and painstaking in his constituency
work, as the Gazette’s

photo library will attest.
He was a bit like the
Holy Ghost when it came
to constituency matters –
he was everywhere. One
day it could be opening
a 24-four-hour clinic for
a local doctor constituent, the next making sure
that the local GAA clubs
got their fair share of the

whatever sporting funds
were up for grabs but, on
most days, it was simply
doing quiet favours for
troubled constituents in
West Dublin.
It was probably a habit
he honed from his father
Brian snr, who was meticulous in his representation of the cares of the

constituents of Dublin
West during his time as
a TD. Like his father he
actually believed being
elected by the people was
the highest honour a politician could aspire to and
was not something to be
crudely divvied-up when
the party alickadoos gathered to broker the quotas

in the backrooms
The last time I saw
Brian Lenihan was in the
Dail on the night he didn’t
get elected leader of Fianna Fail. I got a nod from
him - not a look - as he
wandered out of House to
take a call on his mobile.
Who was on the line?
Another dissembling
banker? A Fianna Fail
backbencher swearing
he voted for him in the
contest? His doctor, perhaps?
The Indian guy from
Washington or, dread the
thought - the ERSI with
another duff economic
prediction .
I don’t know who it was
but I like to think it was
Marian Quinlan giving
him an update on Dublin
West matters and telling
him to get his skates on

as there was an election
in the offing. I bet you it
was her.
A patriot has left us. A
unique Irish politician,
who was one of the highest common multiples in
Irish politics as distinct
from the lowest common
denominators who, in the
main, dominate political
discourse in Dail Eireann
today.
To his wife, Patricia,
and children Tom and
Clare, his mother Anne,
his aunt Mary, his brothers and sister, we send our
condolences.
Ar dheis De go raibh a
anam dilis.
Ken Whelan is an author and
biographer of Bertie Ahern.
He was news editor of Ireland
on Sunday and was editor of
Gazette Group Newspapers

Tributes to Brian Lenihan
‘HE is going to be so sadly missed in his
constituency and I feel for his family Patricia,
Clare and Tom for the loss of a father and a
husband.
‘I owe everything in politics to Brian. Although
you have associates and friends and different
people in politics, Brian was the main man in this
constituency and he had the final say in a lot of
things that went on.
‘He allowed me to go forward on tickets for the
local council, and he sat me down and we spoke at
length on a number of different things, giving me
advice. When it came to the General Election, he
could have run it alone, or picked anyone else to
run with him.’
Fellow Fianna Fail politician, Mulhuddart councillor David
McGuinness said news of Brian Lenihan’s death was “very
saddening”.
‘BRIAN Lenihan’s death at the untimely age of 52
is a tragic and devastating blow to his family. The
Socialist Party in Dublin West joins many others in
the constituency in extending our condolences.
‘Since we fought the very closely contested
Dublin West byeelection in April 1996, there were
very sharp political differences between us.
‘We do not intend to engage in any public debate
in relation to contentious political issues over the
next days and urge all relevant parties and the
media to observe a period of restraint in which the
family of Brian Lenihan are afforded the space and
respite to mourn.’
Joe Higgins TD, Socialist Party
Continued on Page 4

4 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

TRIBUTE Politicians join Dublin West constituents in paying their respects
Tributes to Brian Lenihan
“Brian was a deeply committed
politician, and a devoted family man.
I would like to extend my sincere
sympathies to his wife, Patricia, and his
children, Clare and Tom.
“Brian gave immense service to
the country, and the Dublin West
constituency, since he was elected to the
Dail in 1996. He will be deeply missed.”
Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection,
Joan Burton
“Brian Lenihan was probably the finest
parliamentarian of his generation, and
one of the nicest, most generous people
in the Oireachtas.”
Independent TD for Dublin South, Shane Ross, on
his Twitter page
“On behalf of the Sinn Fein Party, I want
to send my sincere condolences to
Brian’s wife, Patricia, his children, and,
of course, to his extended family circle.
“His passing comes as a huge shock
to everyone. Brian was a giant in Irish
politics, and commanded respect from
across the party divides. His passing is a
huge loss to all who knew him.”
Sinn Fein’s Dublin West representative,
Paul Donnelly
“This is a very sad day for Irish politics,
for Dublin West, and for his family.
“Brian was held in deep affection by
people across Dublin West and right
across Ireland. He always strove to do
his best. His determination to continue

as Minister for Finance while fighting a
serious illness is a perfect example of his
strength of character.
“The fact that Brian Lenihan was
the only Fianna Fail TD to be re-elected
in Dublin in the last election speaks
volumes about his abilities as a politician,
and his qualities as a person. His
willingness to cross the party divide
highlights his personal warmth. I will
miss him as a colleague, and a friend.”
Dublin West TD and Minister for Transport, Sport
and Tourism, Leo Varadkar
“I’m deeply saddened to learn of the
death of Brian Lenihan. His passing is a
loss to Ireland, and a loss to West Dublin.
I want to offer my sincere sympathies to
his wife, children and family.
“Over the years, I got to know Brian
through attending public meetings and
encountering him on the campaign trail
in Dublin West. He was always unfailingly
courteous and engaging. While he could
disagree with you very strongly in the
course of a debate, he was always able to
separate the politics from the individual,
and never engaged in personal attacks.”
Green Party Dublin West representative,
Roderic O’Gorman
“My thoughts are with [his family]. Any
time I met Brian Lenihan personally, he
was always very honourable, and a very
decent man, and I wish his family well
into the future.”
Mulhuddart Labour councillor, Patrick Nulty

Mourners broke into applause when Mr Lenihan’s remains left St Mochta’s church on their final journey

THOUSANDS of
mourners gathered in St
Mochta’s Church in Dublin 15 this week to bid a
last farewell to the late
Brian Lenihan, a “great
man” who “was devoted
to his family” and who
“served his country with
honour”.
From early morning, the
crowds began to appear
on the road outside the
church, and far beyond,
to pay their respects to
the man once regarded as
a potential future leader
of the country, whose life
was cut tragically short
last Friday when he lost
his battle to pancreatic
cancer.
The former Finance
Minister’s family, friends,
colleagues and constituency members remembered him during a deeply
moving ceremony taken
by chief celebrant and
family friend, Fr Eugene
Kennedy, of Laurel Lodge,
where the Dublin West
TD’s constituency office
was also located.
President Mary

McAleese, Taoiseach
Enda Kenny, Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Government ministers, past
and present, party leaders
and representatives from
across the political spectrum, were in attendance.
Mr Lenihan’s family –
wife, Patricia; son, Tom,
and daughter, Clare; his
mother, Ann; brothers,
Conor, Niall and Paul,
and sister, Anita – were
warmly applauded as they
walked into the church.
His remains were draped
with the Tricolour, for
the country he served for
many years.
Fr Eugene described
the man regarded as the
torchbearer of the Lenihan dynasty as “a great
young man cut off in the
prime of his life”.
He said Mr Lenihan
was not only “talented
and gifted” in his political life, but that he was
devoted to his family.
Just 10 days before he
died, he told Fr Eugene
that he was not worried
about dying, but was worried and concerned for his
family.
In what Fr Eugene

described as a “cruel
irony”, he talked of the
community venture that
the late Minister helped
bring to fruition – the St
Francis Hospice in Dublin
15. Sadly, Mr Lenihan was
one of the first patients to
avail of the home care
team there during his battle with cancer.
During the ceremony,
Paul Gallagher, former
Attorney General, spoke
to the thousands of
mourners about the “master of all talents” who, he
said, was an “inspiration to us all, and a great
patriot”.
He said Mr Lenihan
was a “wonderful barrister”, but it was politics that
inspired him. “Politics
was Brian’s very essence.
He loved Fianna Fail, and
was proud of its achievements.”
When Mr Lenihan
was Minister for Finance,
Gallagher said he faced
“daunting” challenges
that required “immediate
and decisive action”.
The three qualities he
used to define Mr Lenihan were “duty, honour
and country”; his other

quality was his utter devotion to his family.
“It was clear just how
devoted and proud he
was of his family, by the
way he spoke about
them.” He later thanked
Mr Lenihan’s family for
“sharing that special man
with us”, whom “we will
never forget”.
Mourners again
applauded as Mr Lenihan’s remains were taken
out of the church, under
military escort, to go to
his final resting place at
St David’s Church graveyard, Kilsallaghan.
Standing strong behind
his father’s remains stood
Tom Lenihan, who shook
hands with mourners. Mr
Lenihan’s wife, Patricia,
and daughter, Clare, were
seen talking to people
from all walks of the late
politician’s life.
From the time Mr
Lenihan was diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer,
he remained upbeat and
refused to let the illness
define him. He died at his
home in Strawberry Beds,
surrounded by his family
last Friday, June 10, at the
age of just 52.

16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

PEOPLE New opening in Ongar Village gets off to a great start

Hoping
new pub
will be
hub for
centre
Q NATALIE BURKE
news@gazettegroup.com

TWENTY-THREE year
old Thomas Kelly is the
proud new owner of
what will be considered
a major landmark in the
heart of Ongar Village.
Along with the business
advice and experience of
his father, Thomas reopened a pub in the centre
of the village and, for the
last three weeks, Kelly’s
Lounge has proved to be
a roaring success.
“So far it’s been great
and we’ve been working
flat out,” new owner Thomas told the Gazette.
“The pub was built
about six years ago but
lay unopened since.
“When the lease came
up at the end of 2010,
I thought it was a great

opportunity as there was
no other pub in the area,
so it was much needed.”
“I conducted a survey
throughout the area to
see what people’s views
were and if they had
any problems with a pub
opening, but the feedback
was really positive and
everybody thought it was
a great idea, so Kelly’s
Lounge opened three
weeks ago,” he said.
With the local community in full support,
local businesses were
also looking forward to
the benefits of the pub.
“The fast food shops
and Indian restaurant
nearby were delighted
we were opening,” said
Thomas, “as well as the
local bookmakers as
they felt the pub would
draw new customers for

Food
bus is
ordered
to close

AN unauthorised bus
selling food at a business
park in Dublin 15 has
been issued an enforcement notice to cease
operation.
When asked by Fine
Gael councillor Kieran
Dennison, a spokesperson for Fingal County
Council said an enforcement notice was issued
to Bia Bus, operating at
Rosemount Business
Park.
Report

Thomas Kelly, who recently opened his new pub, Kelly’s Lounge, in Ongar Village Picture: Peter Doyle

them as well.”
T homas, who had
been studying Engineering in Mechatronics at
Institute of Technology
Blanchardstown (ITB),
finished his studies earlier
this year when he saw the
potential Kelly’s Lounge
would have.
Opportunity

“I’ve worked in the pub
industry before and have
seen first-hand how it
worked, so knew this was
too good an opportunity

to miss,” he explained.
The pub, which will be
one of the centre points
for the local community
and clubs in the area, has
already played a part in
bringing the community
together.
“I’ve lived in Ongar for
13 years and there were
some people coming into
the pub in the last three
weeks who I’ve never seen
before,” said Thomas.
“It’s great to see, and
everyone has a chance to
meet their neighbours, so

Homes with pyrite under ‘no
immediate structural risk’

Q LAURA WEBB

CONSULTING engineers working
on behalf of the council say there
is “no immediate structural risk”
to dwellings in Dromheath, which
have been confirmed to have the
presence of pyrite in them.
Last November the presence of
pyrite was confirmed in 23 dwellings in Fingal County Council’s
housing stock at Dromheath Avenue Extension.
During a recent area committee

COUNCIL:
NOTICE TO
CEASE

meeting, local Labour councillor
Patrick Nulty asked management
to outline what measures are being
taken to assist and support council
tenants in Dromheath Avenue who
have pyrite in their homes.
In a report to the councillor, a council spokesperson said
DBFL Consulting Engineers, on
behalf of the council, have confirmed that there is “no immediate structural risk to the dwellings
concerned and they are carrying
out updated structural assess-

ments on the rented dwellings
this week”.
The spokesperson also stated:
“The question of liability is being
pursued in the normal way to
ascertain responsibility in respect
of any defect in a completed building and to seek appropriate remedy by way of repair of structure or
reimbursement for any costs that
arise from repair of such defects.
“Tenants have been informed
and will be kept informed on developments as they arise.”

LOCALMATTERS
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

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it’s really nice.”
Thomas designed the
interior of Kelly’s Lounge
entirely by himself and
the pub boasts three
floors, a sports bar featuring all major sporting
events on seven 50” TV
screens, a pool table and
dart board, as well as a
jukebox and members’
area.
In terms of plans for
the future, Thomas is
encouraging the local
community and sports
clubs to hold their events

at Kelly’s Lounge and
hopes to open a restaurant in three months
time.
“We want the whole
community to be able
to come in, relax and
enjoy it, whether they’re
upstairs in the quiet,
relaxed area, or shouting
at a match in the sports
bar, there’s something for
everyone,” he said.
According to Tommy,
Thomas’ father, the new
pub is the “missing piece
of the community”.

In a report to the councillor, the spokesperson
said: “An Enforcement
Notice under Section 154
of the Planning & Development Acts 2000-2010
was issued on November 24, 2010 requiring
the unauthorised sale of
food from the Bia Bus
operating in the car park
of the Siemens Building,
to cease.
“The requirements of
this Enforcement Notice
have not been complied
with and the file will now
be prepared for a Prosecution under Section 157
of the Planning & Development Acts 2000-2010,”
the report said.

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

OPEN DAY:
PROJECT

O-boy, O-boy:
Competition
winner enjoys
VIP treatment

Council
calls for
residents
to get
involved

MEGAN Royle McQuillan (left) was
joined by her friend, Caitlin, as they
were picked up by a limousine and
transported in style to the new O2
store at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Megan was the winner
of a recent competition organised by
O2 and she was given the VIP treatment on her arrival. The pair were
greeted at the store by manager Kim
Shields and O2 Gurus Vygaudas
Dambrauskas and Piotr Gren who
were on hand to ensure a fantastic
time was had.

Q LAURA WEBB

FINGAL residents are
answering a call by
their local council to get
involved in identifying a
suitable route and location for a vital new drainage and wastewater treatment infrastructure in the
area by attending open
days for the project.
During the first open
days held by Fingal County Council for the Greater
Dublin Drainage Project,
a steady stream of people
dropped in to get involved
in identifying suitable
routes and locations for
the new drainage and

OBSERVATIONS and
submissions to plans by
Fingal County Council
to upgrade the N3 Mulhuddart Interchange
have received a mixed
response from the public, with some welcoming the scheme, while
others have voiced concerns.
During the public
consultation phase of
the proposed development seven submissions/observations were
received.
The proposal for a
new road network at
the Mulhuddart Interchange includes the

construction of a new
two-span bridge on the
western side of the existing road bridge, together
with footpath and onroad cycle lane, with
the modification of the
existing bridge to oneway traffic flow southbound.
It also includes the
construction of a 260m
of 4m wide looped onramp to the N3 eastbound from the new
bridge and the relocation of the N3 off-ramp
from Navan/Cavan to
the Old Navan Road
a p p r ox i m a t e l y 4 8 m
north-west of the existing T-junction with a
new signalised junction.
The scheme is also

providing for new pedestrian footpaths, cycle
lanes and extended bus
lanes.
According to a Fingal
County Council report,
the proposed upgrade is
likely to “remove current
queues tailed back to
the N3, removing safety
risks. Improve safety for
pedestrians and cyclists,
improve bus accessibility, reduce journey
time for traffic travelling
between the N3 and the
Blanchardstown Road
North and South”.
Concerned that the
earth bank at the front
of their homes would be
removed, residents of
Coolmine Cottages were
told by FCC that the

“earth bank will not be
removed in this scheme”
and that it is proposed
to be “landscaped”.
A submission by
Socialist councillor
Matt Waine proposed
that noise abatement
measures be included in
the works for the areas
to the south and east of
Coolmine Cottages and
Saddlers estate.
The council responded by saying it is proposed to provide an
appropriate noise barrier (earth mound/timber
barrier) for the extent of
the works adjacent to
the N3 eastbound offramp.
It added that the “provision of these measures

-------------------------------------------------------

‘According to a FCC report, the
proposed upgrade is likely to
“remove current queues tailed
back to the N3’
--------------------------------------------------------

will be discussed with
the residents in due
course”.
Meanwhile, the Director of Transport, Planning and Investment
at the National Transport Authority recognised the “importance
of the interchange as a
key link between Blanchardstown Centre and
the West of the N3, for
public transport, walking/cycling, and other
vehicles and supported

the schemed, adding it
will “provide part funding for the proposed
scheme”.
Other observations
were made in the report,
which the council have
considered and will
modify, including the
changing of the on-road
cycle lane to and offroad cycle lane.
The report was noted
by councillors at a recent
area committee meeting
in Blanchardstown.

16 June 2011
011 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

Laurel Lodge
Carpenterstown

Lenihan: Statesman,
patriot and neighbour
D

URING the early
hours of last Friday morning Brian
Lenihan drifted into sleep
and would waken from
that sleep in a far, far better place than anyone can
imagine.
Brian had time to say
goodbye to his many
friends and neighbours
and fell asleep in the
bosom of his loving family and surrounded by
the low hills of the Strawberry Beds – his beloved
home.
Brian Lenihan had a
keen mind, a phenomenal drive and energy
and an unparalleled love
for humankind. People
remark that Brian Lenihan never took offence,
and that is true; it was
a family trait but, more
importantly, Brian Lenihan never gave offence.
Last Friday evening at
6.30pm a huge electrical
storm broke out suddenly
along the Liffey Valley,
with bolts of lightning
followed by crashing
thunder accompanied by
a torrential downpour.
It ended as quickly as it
started.
Shortly afterwards I
was acting as MC at a
gathering of the Fingal
Historical and Heritage
Society Network in Luttrellstown Golf Club.
The function, a night of
Irish music, culture, song,
dance and story had been
planned weeks ahead and
it was the turn for our part
of Fingal County to host
the event.
Addressing a gathering of 200 guests I spoke
about Brian Lenihan’s
passing and remarked
on the earlier thunderstorm comparing it with
the storm that occurred
in Rome foretelling the

Brian Lenihan and Jim Lacey at the launch of his book, A Candle In The Window

death of Julius Caesar.
William Shakespeare, in
the play Julius Caesar,
wrote: “When beggars
die there are no comets
seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the
death of princes.”
Lenihan was a prince
amongst men “a gentleman and a scholar” as the
old Dublin saying goes. I
suggested to the gathering that Brian was not
the sort for sombre ceremony and rather than
have one minute’s silence
we should have a rendering of Brian’s favourite
song, The West’s Awake,
and so we did.
In attendance were
Cllrs Eithne Loftus,
Peggy Hamill and Kieran
Dennison and the Mayor
of Fingal, Ken Farrell, all
who spoke very highly
of Brian, of his talents,
his infectious humour
and his compete lack of
rancour even in robust
debate.
On Saturday afternoon a long line of peo-

ple were queuing outside
Brian’s constituency
office, including people
of different nationalities,
some of them in their
national dress. I also saw
people there associated
with different political
parties. It was part of
Brian’s greatness that
he could transcend the
political spectrum – witness the great reception
he got at Beal na mBlath
at the Michael Collins’
Commemoration.
Brian Lenihan accepted the generous invitation from Fine Gael to
speak at the Michael
Collins’ commemoration with an alacrity that
reflected the magnanimity of the offer.
Brian Lenihan had
to look down from the
edge of a precipice on
the night he guaranteed the banks. If he
baulked at that challenge, or procrastinated,
God knows where this
country would be now.
Collins stood at a simi-

lar precipice “in London
streets cold and dank in
the night air” in December, 1921. That Lenihan’s
precipice was economic
made no difference, a
breakdown of civil order
would likely follow a
banking collapse.
Brian was most knowl-

edgeable on the local history of this area, as well as
having a thorough knowledge of broader Irish and
world history. In fact,
Brian did me the honour
of launching my second
edition of, A Candle in the
Window, a History of the
Barony of Castleknock.
I never failed to speak to
him but departed richer in
knowledge.
A couple of years back,
following a birthday party
of a mutual friend, Brian
ended up in our living
room with my wife and
me and our next door
neighbours and, over a
glass or two of wine, we
tried to sort out the Lisbon Treaty. We didn’t
agree but Brian’s cogent
argument and debate,
despite the hour of the
morning and the couple
of glasses of wine, was
clarity itself.
During the evening he
removed his tie, which he
left behind. I telephoned
him the following day and
he said he would drop by
during the following week,

as he wanted to develop a
point that he thought was
forgotten the previous
night. It did not happen.
We did, however, meet
again several times afterwards. Some weeks back,
at a Car Draw in aid of
the St Francis Hospice,
he approached me smiling with hand extended
saying in mock seriousness: “Mr Lacey, I think
you have a tie belonging
to me!” I retorted that
he took so long about
reclaiming it that I now
considered it a historical artefact and he threw
back his head in laughter.
He was the only public
representative there that
day and was in good form
but looked a little tired.
A fortnight later he
turned up at a Heritage
meeting of Fingal County
Council’s Heritage Section in the Crowne Plaza
Hotel. Again he was the
sole public representative in attendance. This
was service above and
beyond the call of duty;
another person in similar

circumstances would be
ensconced in a comfortable armchair beside a
warm fire.
St Francis Hospice,
Blanchardstown, would
still be a drawing on a
large sheet of paper without his particular involvement. Castleknock Hurling and Football Club
have the fine grounds
in Somerton, thanks to
Brian’s intervention.
I recall a couple of
years back a proposal to
rename Connolly Hospital to Blanchardstown
University Hospital was
mooted.
Local members of Fianna Fail and the Labour
Party made their concerns known and Brian
became involved – Connolly’s name remains.
Finally, and most
importantly, my condolences to Brian’s wife
Patricia, son Tom, daughter Clare, mother Ann,
sister Anita and brothers
Conor, Niall and Paul.
Ar dheis dé go raibh a
ainm dilis.

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

EVENT Local families enjoy the festivities as local store

A loada
fun at
Lidl
HE Lidl store in Clonee was a hive of
activity recently when a massive event
was held to launch the new in-store
bakery. Local families streamed in to try
samples of some of the delicious new
breads and pastries that are being baked in
the store daily.
There are lots of mouth-watering varieties to choose from, including country loaf,
traditional crusty cob, multigrain roll and
pumpkin seed loaf, to name just a few.
Children were entertained with a free
bouncing castle and face-painting as their
parents enjoyed tea, coffee and cake.
Aoife Clarke, from Lidl, said - “It was
fantastic to see so many people turn out
for the launch of the bakery. It is a terrific
facility and has already proved very popular for shoppers.
“We were delighted to see so many
families out enjoying the day and walking
away with trolleys full of bargains. We also
held a raffle with proceeds going to our
dedicated charity partner, the Irish Heart
Foundation, which saw people dig deep for
a good cause.”

T

Dawood, Ishaal, Haneen and Rasbah Anwar. Picture: Conor O Mearain

Carol Barry with her kids, David, Caitlin and Zara

Kujtim Mulkurti with his sons, Ken, Rik and Nik

Maxim Griu and Theodor Borta

Erika and Jeanine Grierosu

16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

celebrates the launch of its new in-store bakery

Erika, Paul and Jeanine Grierosu

Haneen, Ishaal and Rasbah Anwar
asd

All the children enjoyed the day

Rebecca and Macedon Bodiu

10 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

SCHOOL Growing awareness at opening of ITB garden

Glen Mooney

Students from St Philip’s, Mountview, with members of staff from the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown. Pictures: Robbie Reynolds/CPR

ITB cultivating young
minds at Bloom 2011!
EMBERS of staff from the Institute of Technology,
Blanchardstown, together with the students from St
Philip’s, Mountview, Clonsilla, attended the official
opening of the ITB garden.
It was one of 27 stunning gardens on display at Bloom,
Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family event that
took place during the June bank holiday weekend for five
days.

M

Lauren Riordan

This is the fifth year of the event and has been the most
successful yet. Bloom attracted almost 90,000 visitors to
the 70-acre site at the Visitor’s Centre in the Phoenix Park
in Dublin.
The garden itself was officially launched by the children from the Gardening Club of St Philip’s, Mountview,
Dublin 15, who helped to create the inserts for the water
feature.

Emma Gilhooly and Sarah Maples

Kaleigh McEntee, Sinead Brady, Janice O’Riley and Saoirse Daly

Sinead Brady

Megan Gallagher

Kaleigh McEntee

Lee Daly

16 June 2011 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 16 June 2011

Exploring
Dublin’s
architecture
A RECENTLY launched
Architecture Tours Ireland initiative is offering
tours of historic and contemporary Dublin architecture.
The tours, which will
run every week across
the year and take approximate one to one- andhalf hours to complete,
will be guided by a group
of passionate architects.
Tour capacity will be limited to just 25 participants
and the cost per tour is
€10 per adult, €5 per
child and €8 concession
for students, unwaged
and seniors. Bookings
can be made on www.
architecturetours.ie.
Tours currently on offer
through Architecture
Tours Ireland (ATI) are:
Dublin Docklands, The
Living City, Georgian
Dublin, Temple Bar and
Children’s Activity Tours.
Visit www.architecturetours.ie for more
information and bookings.

FITNESS Start planning now how to look your best

Shaping up
your body
for sunny
summer
QDERRY TEMPLE

SUMMER is here, so
it’s time to dig out last
year’s swimsuit in preparation for the good
weather and your next
holiday destination.
But does last year’s
swimsuit still fit or has
a winter of hibernation taken its toll on
your waistline? If you
want to get your body
in shape for the sunny

summer months, then
maybe it’s time to start
planning how you are
going to look your best.
One way to kick-start
a new regime, is to list all
the reasons you want to
shape up. Writing down
your goals and the reasons you want to reach
them will help motivate
and inspire you. Along
with reviewing your
reasons for training,
you need to set yourself

some realistic goals.
Mark down your weight,
and, as your programme
develops, you will have
a visible record of your
progress. Record any
training done, and try
to consistently improve
your results.
The first law of thermodynamics dictates
that weight loss occurs
whenever energy output
exceeds energy intake,
you need to increase
your daily activity and
combine this with good
eating habits.
It was reported in the
International Journal of
Obesity that analysis
of the past 25 years of
weight loss research
found that the average
weight loss of a weightreduction programme
was hugely increased
when a proper diet
was followed along
with exercise. A food
diary can help make
you more aware of your
nutritional blunders.
Write down absolutely
everything you eat and
drink and review it to
look for common dietary mistakes.
The most common
errors include not eating a breakfast, going
too long without eating,
eating too many processed carbohydrates

and not enough vegetables and protein.
One of the best ways
to train, is a combination of cardio and resistance training. This helps
you to not only lose fat,
but also gain muscle,
ensuring a toned look,
a stronger body and
a higher metabolism.
Most important is to
do something you really enjoy; working out
shouldn’t have to be
boring. For those who
despise the gym and
want to train outdoors
in a fun environment,
bootcamp may be a suit-

able option. Bootcamps
have enjoyed a surge
in popularity recently,
because they involve a
mix of both endurance
and resistance training
in an enjoyable atmosphere.
It is important to have
a circle of support, so
you should encourage
a friend, family member or spouse to be an
exercise partner and
join you in your weight
loss effort. This person
should only be used as
a support, however, and
not as a crutch to lean
on. This is your journey

to the ideal beach body
and nobody else can get
you there.
Derr y Temple is a
qualified pilates instructor, strength and conditioning coach. He runs
his own fitness company, DTFitness, offering
pilates and bootcamp
classes, along with personal training. DTFitness is located in the
Artane/Donnycarney
area in Dublin 5. You
Contact Derry by telephone on 085 7131417.
Email: derry@dtfitness.
ie or visit the website:
www.dtfitness.ie

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INITIATIVE

16 June 2011 GAZETTE 13

EVENT Weekend with crowds in their thousands

Bloom’s
Rudd-y
success
breakfast pack if they
clicked “Like” on the
Rudd’s page.
This proved to be a
huge success, with more
than 600 new fans joining the Rudd’s page at
Bloom.
More recently, at Taste
of Dublin, Rudd’s ran the
same promotion, and saw
their Facebook page gain
more than 1,100 fans.
Taste of Dublin was
as popular as ever, with
thousands of people turning out to sample some of
the finest food and drink
in Dublin and, of course,
Rudd’s famous sausages.
To check out photos
and news from the events,
see www.facebook.com/
rudds.

Talbot Hotel to
sponsor Discover
Ireland Horse Show
THE TALBOT Hotel
Group has announced its
three-year sponsorship of
the 2011 Discover Ireland
Horse Show.
The Talbot Group are
the proud sponsors of
the Speed Derby International Competition.
This prestigious event
takes place on Ladies’
Day, August 4, in the RDS
main arena and offers a
prize of €21,000.
Taking place from
August 3 to 7, Discover
Ireland Dublin Horse
Show is one of the
world’s largest international show-jumping
events in the world and,
this year, the show hopes
to be even bigger and better than ever before. Not
only is the show a top
international equestrian
event, it is also a wonderful day out with kids’
entertainment, live music
every day, champagne
bars, great food, trade
stands and, not to forget,
the style of Blossom Hill

Ladies’ day on August 4.
Over 100 years ago
the Talbot Hotel Group
originated in Wexford,
the sunny south-east of
Ireland. Today, along
with Talbot Wexford, the
Talbot Trinity comprises
the Stillorgan Park Hotel
and Talbot Carlow. Each
of the 4-star Talbot Hotels
offer luxurious accommodation, contemporary
bars and restaurants,
health and leisure facilities, exceptional wedding
venues and excellent
business facilities.
Located within 10
minutes from the RDS,
the Stillorgan Park Hotel
is offering packages from
€65 per person sharing
during the Horse Show,
including ticket to the
show and complimentary transfers to the RDS.
For reservations, contact
the hotel on 01 2001800,
email reservations@stillorganpark.com or book
online at www.stillorganpark.com

W

DUBLIN’S Bloom festival, which ran from
Thursday, June 2, to Monday, June 6, was a fantastic and successful event,
organised by Bord Bia.
Popular breakfast meat
producers, Rudd’s, participated in the Field to
Fork tent in the Bord Bia
Food Village.
The glorious sunshine
held up for most of the
weekend, which helped
to bring out the crowds
in their thousands.
For the duration of the
bank holiday weekend,
Rudd’s ran a promotion in conjunction with
their newly-launched
Facebook page, where
customers received a
complimentary Rudd’s

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Developed by mascara experts, this
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16 June 2011 GAZETTE 15

GazettePETS
PETS

Brought to you by
Miriam Kerins of
the DSPCA

THE FACTS: ADVICE TO HELP PREPARE FOR A FUN SUMMER WITH CHILDREN AND PETS

Mothers have
it tough – with
kids and pets!
S A humane educator specialising
in adult education, part of my
programme specifically
targets parents, and, in
particular, mums who are
trying to juggle a career,
raise children and make
time for the family pet.
Now, I don’t care what
the experts say, ladies –
nothing prepares you for
the highs and lows that
are part of the job description of being a mother.
It’s a complex journey,
and the answers don’t
miraculously fall at your
feet!
When contemplating
motherhood, I’ll bet that,
like me, your expectations were high. Yes?
That’s because we’re fed
by a culture that shows
motherhood to be a time
of “bliss, joy and tranquillity”. Oh, purleese!
Well, not to worry girls
– you’re not alone in your
disorganised state; I’m
with you, and I’m going
to offer you some sisterly advice that I hope
will help you out when it
comes to planning some
fun, supervised, summer
activities for the kids and
the pets.

A

Before I start, I want
to remind you that all
children should be monitored whilst playing with
pets – particularly a toddler, who will view a pet
as a small, moving cuddly
toy, and will not be able
to understand that hitting
them, or pulling on their
tail, will cause pain and/
or injury.
We’ll start with toddlers.
Young children love
hide-and-seek games.
Hold up a sheet or towel
so that your dog is hidden, and ask your toddler
to pull the sheet aside,
revealing your pet.
If your dog is a gentle
pet, allow your toddler to
smear a tasty treat, such
as soft cheese, onto their
fingers, and allow your
pet to lick it off. (Please
try this with your own
fingers first, in case your
pet’s nibbling gets too
rough.)
If you feed your child
in a high chair, allow him
to drop some pet-friendly
fresh vegetables for your
pet to enjoy.
Restrict this to carrot
sticks, unsalted cooked
pasta, broccoli or apple
slices without the pips.

-------------------------------------------------------

‘I’m going to offer you some
sisterly advice that I hope will help
you when it comes to planning fun,
supervised, summer activities for
the kids and the pets’
--------------------------------------------------------

For older children,
encourage your child to
throw a ball or favourite
pet toy for your dog to
retrieve. Alternatively,
your child can blow
bubbles for your dog to
catch.
Make sure to buy a bubble kit that’s pet-friendly;
available at all good pet
stores. Using ordinary,
home-made bubbles may
cause a stomach upset if
ingested by your pet.
Run with your dog on a
lead and have your child
“race” your dog to a designated finish line.
Get a toy water gun,
or use the garden hose,
and have your child spray
small amounts of water a
few feet away from your
dog; moving the stream
of water away in a zig-zag
motion along the ground
– your dog will love to
chase this.
Keep a close eye for

signs your dog is no longer having fun, and stop
this activity if so.
Hide a few doggy treats
(near to the ground so
that your dog can find
them), and have your
child and dog try to find
them together.
For young teens, your
teen should be encouraged to play ball games
with your dog.
Enrol yourself, your
teen and your dog into
dog-training classes,
especially obedience and
agility, where many teens
will enjoy the competitiveness, and it will also
boost self-esteem for both
teen and dog.
Have your teen read
plenty of books, or search
the internet for fun, safe
ways to play and interact
with your dog.
Never leave or expect
your teen to be in charge
of your pet outside of the

For time-pressed mums, looking after children and pets, is no walk in the park –
however, a walk in the park with Rover and your children in tow is just one way to
help the entire family – including your loved pet - bond and have fun together

safety of your home, as
situations such as interactions with strange dogs
can easily occur.
Sometimes – and I
stress, sometimes – teens
can become angry or
direct negative reactions
toward their pet if that
pet destroys their personal items; so watch out for
signs of aggression from
both teen and pet.
It’s no secret that teens
can be very busy young
people and you, as their
parent, will be forced to

compete for their love
and attention – so imagine how the family dog
feels!
Encourage your teen
to spend some of his/her
pocket money on doggy
treats, and to take on the
responsibility of cleaning
out the dog’s bed etc.
Observe your dog and
obtain feedback from the
way he licks, cuddles or
growls, scratches or runs
away in response to your
child/teen’s interactions.
Oh yes, ladies, I’ve no

www.gazette group.com
All of your latest local news, sport, features and
pictures are now just a click away

doubt you’ll face many
hours where you’ll wonder if you were cut out
to be a mum at all, but,
give yourself credit, grab
a coffee, and write down
all your good points, and
forget about the negative
ones, because, you know
what?
You’re a great mum,
and your kids are not so
bad either!
For more information,
log onto www.dspca.ie
or email me at miriam.
kerins@dspca.ie

16 GAZETTE 16 June 2011

SNAPSHOT The stories of the day

They’re certainly
feeling the out in
Blackrock this week
Actor Jack Walsh (Playing Leopold Bloom); Dail Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett TD; actress Norette Leahy (playing Mrs Breen) and TV Dragon, Bobby Kerr, were feeling the love this week as they
attended an evening reception at the launch of a new website, www.iloveblackrock.ie. The site is aimed at promoting Blackrock, Co.Dublin. An initiative of the Blackrock Business Network, the website
is part of a drive to highlight the town as a great place to do business as well as an exciting shopping and leisure destination. Details were also announced at the launch of a number of events that are
being organised and hosted by the Blackrock Business Network, including Bloomsday celebrations, and an Animation Festival and Family Fun Day on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28.

Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd.
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will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify
the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the
publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published
in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette,
Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette
and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an
acceptance of these conditions.

Put the pedal to the...
static bike! With B&Q
B&Q has teamed up with Youth
Work Ireland, its official charity
partner, and arranged a cycling
fundraising event in their stores,
appropriately called B&Q Bike
It!
Staff from B&Q Swords have
accepted the challenge and will
be biking it for Youth Work Ireland between the hours of 10am
and 6pm in the B&Q Swords
store at Airside Retail Park,
Swords, Co. Dublin. Children
from the Swords Youth Service
will be here to participate in the
cycle and also collect donations
on behalf of Youth Work Ireland.
Noeleen O’Gorman, from
B&Q Swords said: “We are
looking forward to participating
in our B&Q Bike It! event and
raising funds for such an important cause.”
Meanwhile, B&Q Liffey Valley will have a Management
versus Staff distance race on a
static bike. Staff can also place
€1 donations to guess the total
distance covered by the winning
team.

DIARY
Never to late
to start again
LAST week, we told the story of
Dubliner Adrian Nolan, from
Churchtown, and how he turned
his life around by turning his
dream about working with radio
into a reality.
After 28 years of working in
an international road transport
company, Adrian decided to get
back to the books at the age of
50, and study Fetac Level 5 and
6 in Radio Broadcast in Dun
Laoghaire College of Further
Education (DCFE).
He has since progressed to
study a BA in Communications
in DCU, and has just completed
his first year there.
He will return to DCFE this
September to teach the Fetac
Level 5 Radio Production Module as an evening course for 20

weeks.
The module will introduce
students to radio and interview
techniques, and will give students a chance to gain experience in recording and performing live.
The communications student
encourages anyone who is tired
of their current career to consider pursuing their dream job.
The college details are Dun
Laoghaire College of Further
Education, Cumberland Road,
Dun Laoghaire. You can contact
the college by calling 01-2809676
or by emailing info@dlcfe.ie

Getting kids
in Stitches
THE search is on for unknown
teenagers to act in a comedy
horror film, Stitches.
Open auditions will take place
in the offices of Tailored Films, 33
Pearse St, Dublin 2, from 10am
until 7pm this coming Sunday,
June 19, and the following Tues-

day, June 21, 10am-6pm.
Casting director Nick
McGinley says that no experience is required and those auditioning should be aged between
16 and 18.
The feature film is written
and will be directed by Conor
McMahon, the acclaimed Irish
director of Dead Meat.

And finally...
ST ATTRACTA’S JNS in Meadowbrook is inviting people to
come on down and join them on
Saturday for their Father’s Day
summer fair from 2-4pm.
Kick off Father’s Day by testing dad’s football skills in their
penalty shoot-out, have your picture taken with Shamrock Rover’s Hooperman, or why not try
your luck in their fantastic raffle,
or just browse their many stalls,
including books, cakes, bric-abrac, toys and games.
All funds raised from the event
will go towards the school building fund.

16 June 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazetteGAMING
GAMING
Wii’s lookin’
at U as Zelda
hits 25 years
AT THE E 3 Expo in Los
Angeles earlier this month,
Nintendo introduced a new
concept for video games and
home entertainment: Wii U,
a new console that includes
a controller with a 6.2-inch
screen.
The company claims that,
by adding a second screen to
the living room, the system
creates a multitude of new
video game experiences, while
offering families a variety of
options to customise their
entertainment.
Previously, video games
played on a home console

have been confined to the TV
and offered identical viewpoints to each player in a multi
player environment.
Nintendo says that the new
controller removes traditional
gaming boundaries, creating a
more dynamic and fluid gaming and entertainment experience.
After the console is
launched, gamers will see firsthand the type of gaming experiences made possible by Wii
U and the new controller.
In single-player games the
new controller can display
information on its screen that

does not appear on the TV.
Also, the information and
viewpoint can change in the
new controller based on the
orientation of its gyroscope.
In multiplayer games, the
player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the
TV, offering a wide variety of
competitive and cooperative
opportunities.
In addition to the 6.2-inch
screen, the new controller also
features an accelerometer and
a gyroscope, a rumble feature,
an inward-facing camera, a
microphone and speakers.

NINTENDO kicked off
its E3 Expo Presentation by announcing a
number of initiatives to celebrate the 25th anniversary
of The Legend of Zelda. A remastered 3D version of The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of
Time, launches for Nintendo
3DS on June 19, while Wii

Wii U combines motionsensing game play with the
ability to support full HD
graphics. Each Wii U console will be partnered with a
new controller and can also
use up to four additional Wii
Remote™or Wii Remote Plus
controllers. The system is also
backward compatible and can
play all Wii games and use

all Wii accessories. The Wii
console has sold more than
86 million units globally and
greatly expanded the overall
audience for video games. Wii
U aims to expand that audience even further.
Developers worldwide
are already working on new
games and experiences for the
console.

owners will see the arrival
of The Legend of Zelda:
Skyward Sword, in the 2011
holiday season. Additionally, Nintendo announced a
tour of orchestral concerts
featuring music from the
beloved franchise. Additional commemorative
activities will be announced
at a later date.

18 GAZETTE 16 June 2011

GazetteMOTORS
MOTORS
RoadSigns
Road
Signs

Skoda shows new
Fabia sport

SKODA is showcasing the Fabia vRS 2000 design
concept this summer in Germany at the GTI
Treffen. The Fabia vRS 2000 concept car has
been developed and built specifically for the GTITreffen. Drawing on the Fabia Super 2000 rally
car, Skoda’s designers have created an original
roadster pursuing a single goal - dynamism and
the joy of sporty driving. Based on the Skoda
Motorsport’s broad rally car, the Fabia vRS 2000
offers plenty of room for four occupants to climb
in and sit in the car with ease. Besides the great
view, the sharply sloping windscreen provides a
constant supply of fresh air and a sense of being at
one with nature.

The new concept Skoda Fabia vRS2000

FORD DEVELOPING NEW SMALLER ENGINES :
BRIDGESTONE Ford
is developing its smallest engine ever - a 1.0litre three-cylinder
engine with EcoBoost
technology. Ford says
the engine will offer
output comparable to
a 1.6-litre four-cylinder
engine.
Horsepower and
torque ratings were not
immediately available.
The engine is expected
to make its way into
smaller Ford vehicles
in the coming years.
Engineers in Britain
developed the engine
and it is likely to be
marketed heavily in
Europe. The engine
uses turbo-charging,
direct injection and
twin-independent variable camshaft timing.

PRESTIGE,
SPORTS AND
CLASSIC CARS:
THE inaugural Prestige, Sports and

Classic Car Sale and
S h owc a s e , a m i x
of the world’s most
luxurious cars, combined with favourite
classic cars, is set to
take place on Saturday and Sunday,
June 25 and 26 at
the National Show
Centre, Swords, near
Dublin Airport.
The event promises
to be a car enthusiast’s
dream, with a broad
range of vehicles onshow, from supercars
and luxury vehicles to
SUVs and classics.
Not only will visitors get to see these
incredible cars up
close, but many of
the cars will also be
on sale, with car dealers on hand to talk
through the various
models with visitors.
The National Show
Centre, Swords, is
located just minutes
from Dublin Airport,
the M1 and M50.
Tickets for the event
can be purchased at
the door.

Skoda is offering a thrifty petrol engine for the Octavia that’s almost comparable to diesel efficiency for an entry price that’s much more
competitive at €19,710 before delivery charges

Skoda downsizes
engine for the better
Skoda has a new petrol engine option for the
Octavia. MICHAEL MORONEY takes a test drive
KODA has opted for
some smart thinking
by fitting the new
1.2-turbo petrol engine
to the Octavia, giving it
petrol-engine smoothness coupled with power
and fuel economy. And,
as the car is very affordable, I thought that it was
well worth a test drive.
The 1.2-litre engine
might appear underwhelming in terms of its
size, but it’s far from that
in terms of performance.
For smoothness of driving, Skoda had matched
the engine with its
smooth DSG automatic
-type gearbox making the
car an absolute pleasure
to drive.
T h e 1. 2 - l i t r e T S I

engine develops a healthy
105bhp, so there’s plenty
of power on demand.
That’s the same level of
power that you get from
the Skoda 1.6-TDI diesel
version. And, while the
torque figure for the petrol car is marginally lower
than the diesel model, it
can still better the diesel
power in terms of accel-

eration.
This 1.2-litre TSI model
is marginally faster from
stop, with a 0 to 100km/
hr acceleration figure of
just 10.8 seconds.
While it’s not at diesel
CO2 levels just yet, with
a figure of 134g CO2, it’s
not far off many diesel
cars, and that’s with the
DSG gearbox fitted.
It matches the CO2
output of the 1.6-TDI versions, with the DSG system. So, when it comes to
this new Skoda Octavia
option, you can have your
cake and eat it.
This engine can
achieve this higher efficiency because the petrol is injected directly
into the engine. This

gives a higher compression ratio, which
increases the heat efficiency and fuel efficiency of the engine. The fuel
economy figure at 16.9
km/litre (5.9 l/100km)
is slightly lower than
1.6-litre diesel cars.
The 1.6-litre Skoda
Octavia diesel is rated to
be about 20% more fuelefficient but the buying
price difference is almost
€3,500. And that’s a lot of
petrol over the lifetime of
the car.
For short distance
drivers, this new Skoda
has strong appeal. The
big bonus, I think, is the
DSG gearbox; don’t buy
an Octavia without at
least test driving it; you’ll

be quickly convinced
about its merits.
The new Skoda Octavia 1.2-TSI has all of the
features of the standard
model, including remote
central locking, front
electric windows and the
ESP stability programme
for added safety.
The Octavia is well
equipped in terms of
safety features, with driver and passenger airbags,
side airbags and driver
seat-belt warning lights.
It’s been a while since
it was tested in the Euro
NCAP crash test programme, 2004 in fact, so
it needs an upgrade from
its 4-star rating back
then. Maybe we’ll get that
soon.

Two weeks to go to the end of scrappage scheme
THERE’S just two weeks to go to
the end of the Government Car
Scrappage Scheme and many
motorists are expected to try and
avail of last-minute deals.
So far to the end of May this
year, some 9,630 cars were sold
under the scheme. On top of
the 17,272 cars in 2010, this
gives an idea of how many have

responded to the offer, which, in
most cases, was topped up by a
manufacturer deal.
New car value has never been
better and there are only days
left to avail of the offers. Commenting on the figures, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry
(SIMI) director general, Alan
Nolan said: “We predicted that

10,000 scrappage cars would be
sold this year. We’re not far off
that mark and should exceed the
figure by the time the scheme
ends on June 30. It’s important
to recognise what scrappage
has achieved. Even after the
Government discounts, over
€86 million has been generated
in VAT and VRT for the Govern-

ment, so the scheme has made
significant revenue for the Government.
“Of course, the main benefit
is for the motorist who has got a
fantastic deal under the scheme
and, with an environmental
focus, they are also benefiting
from cheaper running costs
too.”

16 June 2011 GAZETTE 19

20 GAZETTE 16 June 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL
FastTravel
Mixing up
some luxury
with real
family fun
The Imperial Hotel packages for
a truly Corkonian experience

THE Queen’s visit to Cork proved to be a huge
success and, following in her Majesty’s footsteps,
the Imperial Hotel in the heart of Cork City has
introduced a great new package to give visitors a
truly Corkonian experience.
Enjoy three night’s city centre accommodation
in the charming opulence of the four-star hotel,
with a full Irish breakfast each morning. Dine like
a king or queen, with dinner on one evening in the
Imperial’s own newly-refurbished Pembroke Seafood Bar and Grill, plus a lunch filled with local
produce at the Farmgate Restaurant inside the
place that really captured HRH’s heart, the Old
English Market.
Next, sit back and enjoy a drive around all
the main sights of the area from the Cork Open
Top City Bus Tour, before being pampered with
a wash and blow dry in the hotel’s Aveda hair
salon, as well as access to the Escape Spa.
As well as a box of chocolates in your room on
arrival, you will also receive a royal invitation to
return to the Imperial for a complimentary night
on a later occasion.
This package is only valid for July and August,
from €189 per person sharing, subject to availability.
For more information, contact the Imperial
Hotel, Cork on 021 4274040 or visit www.flyn
nhotels.com

A stay in Europe’s first hotel
to offer a women-only floor
PLANNING a girl’s only weekend? Then make
Copenhagen the city of choice and book a room
at the newly-opened Hotel Bella Sky Comwell,
Europe’s first hotel to offer a women-only floor.
Women-only areas in hotels are increasingly
popular around the world, but this is a first for
Denmark, and also Europe.
Hotel Bella Sky Comwell in Copenhagen, the
largest hotel in Scandinavia with 814 rooms, had
no doubts when it came to reserving an entire
floor for women only. The hotel management
asked a number of influential and well-travelled
Danish women whether they felt there was a
requirement for their own floor, and over half of
the women surveyed would prefer to stay on a
women-only floor. As a result, the bedrooms and
bathrooms have been designed specifically with
women in mind.
Guests of the special Bella Donna floor at the
Bella Comwell in Copenhagen join other guests
for meals, so rest assured, even if you’re on a girls’
only break, you still might bump into a handsome stranger over breakfast.

CORMAC CURTIS

OK. This week I’m wearing my dad hat again
– and why not? After
all, Father’s Day is just
around the corner, so I
can be as opinionated as I
want to be, for a change!
This time last year, I
was due to spend a weekend at a well-known family hotel in the south-east
with my family, during
which, in honour of the
aforementioned Father’s
Day, I was to enjoy a little dad time – some golf,
a massage, even an hour
or two with the weekend
newspapers and a quiet
pint - heaven.
On the morning we
were due to head down
there, my wife, Susan,
who was in the middle of
starting up her own business (in the throes of a
recession, go figure) was
called away at the last
minute. So, I found myself
heading down the N11 to
spend Father’s Day with
my two young daughters,
just the three of us.
Needless to say, any
chance of a little dad time
disappeared quicker than
you can say ‘golf clubs.’
To cut a long story
s h o r t , my we e ke n d
turned out to be a surprisingly relaxed affair, as the
hotel, famed for its familyfriendly hospitality, managed to arrange our time
in a way that afforded me
plenty of opportunities

to unwind while the kids
were engaged in other
activities.
The point is – with the
right service, anything is
possible.
So, fast forward a
year(ish), and this
time with both parents
accounted for, we are
heading towards the
wonderful town of Kenmare for a few days of
family fun at the Sheen
Falls Lodge.

accolades, including multiple honours from AA,
Conde Nast, Relais &
Chateaux, Zagat, Georgina Campbell’s Jameson
Guide and the Bridgestown guide.
So, I was more than
willing to give it a try.
The first time my wife
and I visited here happened to be the very same
weekend in 2009 – the
weekend of the Heineken
Cup Final. And, just like

-------------------------------------------------------

‘I had visited the Sheen Falls
before, and I can say that it is
simply one of the finest luxury
hotels in the country’
--------------------------------------------------------

To be honest, when the
offer of a family weekend
at the Sheen Falls was
first mooted – I wasn’t
entirely convinced it
would work all that well;
we had, in the past, spent
a few days in the same
neck of the woods at
another luxury hotel, but
they simply didn’t have
the experience with kids
and a family’s requirements to make it work.
Don’t get me wrong,
I had visited the Sheen
Falls before, and I can say
without fear of contradiction, that it is simply one
of the finest luxury hotels
in the country.
It boasts an extraordinary list of awards and

in 2009, the boys in blue,
Leinster, were set for a
dramatic climax to the
season.
Was I a little disappointed to be missing
another huge moment for
Leinster? I was gutted.
When it comes to my
allegiance to Leinster,
well, let’s just say I’m no
stranger to blue and gold
face paint!
But, that said, if you’re
going to miss a cup final,
there really is nowhere
else I would rather be
than this hotel, nestled away in a quiet and
most beautiful corner of
Kerry.
The real test of a quality hotel, however, is how

well the staff can handle
a crisis.
After about an hour
on the road from Dublin,
my four-year-old, Cici,
began to feel unwell.
From there, most of drive
was taken up with the little one either sleeping or
getting sick.
Needless to say, we
had a fair amount of dirty
laundry when we reached
the hotel.
It was a genuine relief
to be welcomed by such
understanding people.
T he dir ty clothes
were whisked away to
be cleaned for us, and,
because Cici had to go
straight to bed, the restaurant menu was delivered
to the room for me to
peruse at my leisure as my
wife and eldest daughter,
Becky, went downstairs
for a relaxed dinner.
What can I say? I
would love to describe
my meal as room service unlike anything I had
ever experienced, but
what I enjoyed was fine
dining served to my room
without even the slightest
compromise.
You can’t describe a
starter of lobster prepared
three ways – smoked,
grilled and tempura fried
with a lime chilli sorbet - followed by a main
course of caramelised
scallops with a salad of
haricot vert beans and a
plum tomato tartare and
chive olive oil, as room

The luxurious Sheen
Falls Lodge, above, and,
opposite, fun for all the
family with mud surfing
at the Eclipse Adventure
Centre in nearby
Kenmare

service. This was so much
more than that.
After the long and
eventful drive earlier in
the day, to see my youngest comfortably tucked in
to her bed as I tucked into
this stunning meal, and
knowing that Susan was
enjoying a grown-up dining experience with her
very-grown-up five-yearold downstairs, really
did leave me in a state of
incredibly content satisfaction.
After a perfect night’s
sleep, we got tucked in
to breakfast downstairs.
One very hungry daughter, who was feeling much
better, put away more than
one bowl of rice crispies,
while the other discovered, much to her delight,
the wonders of pancakes
and maple syrup.
Eggs, sausage, bacon,
pastries, cold meats, bread,
fresh coffee and tea were
enjoyed as we prepared
for a day of family activi-

16 June 2011 GAZETTE 21

Edited by
Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs

Going back in time to one of
Ireland’s most lavish Georgian
homes, now a country house hotel

THREE-NIGHT FAMILY FUN AT THE FALLS
This package costs €999 and includes: overnight accommodation in
a deluxe room, complimentary accommodation for up to two children sharing with their parents; full Irish breakfast; transfers and
full-day access to the Kids Camp at The Eclipse Centre, including
lunch.
This package is available Monday-Friday (weekends on request),
July 4 and August 26. A five-night package is available for €1,422 in
total, which includes a complimentary night.
For further information, telephone 064 6641600 or visit www.
sheenfallslodge.ie or join them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/
sheenfallslodge.
ties at the nearby Eclipse
Adventure Centre (www.
eclipseireland.com).
The rest of the morning
and afternoon brought
together a number of
families staying at the
hotel together for an array
of activities that even the
heavy rain couldn’t put a
damper on.
To start, the group was
treated to a session of
laughter yoga, something
that was new to even the
most experienced guru of
the alternative therapies

in our group.
While this was going
on, some of the younger
ones, mine included,
were treated to pony
rides – delight doesn’t
even begin to describe
the feelings this brought
to their little faces.
Before the rides, the
kids were brought to
each of the stables and
introduced to all of the
horses and ponies, and,
after a talk about safety,
and how to approach
the animals, it was off

to fetch riding helmets
and to mount their trusty
steeds.
I don’t recall ever seeing a happier group of
children – even if the
rain didn’t let up for a
second.
After a cup of hot coffee, the group headed
off around the centre’s
grounds for a quick orienteering session before
we were treated to mud
surfing! An extraordinary
activity that involves riding on a modified surf-

board that is dragged
through the mud by a
quad bike! A must for the
young, the young-at-heart
and the brave-hearted.
Tired, wet, cold and
weary, we all tucked in
to a well-deserved lunch
back at the hotel before
Becky and Cici dragged
me to the swimming
pool, until about 10 minutes before the Heineken
Cup kicked off.
I must admit, that trailing the Northampton
Saints by 16 points left
me wondering how I was
going to find a way to
enjoy the rest of the weekend – but I have a feeling
the hotel manager put a
quick call in to the Leinster coach at half time
to provide the dads of
our group with the most
incredible comeback of
all time, as Leinster turned
the game around to win.
Now that dad was back
in jovial form, even if my
delighted outbursts in the

second half did scare the
bejesus out of the kids,
we got to tuck in to an
incredible BBQ-style
meal overlooking the
river bank, just as the rain
cleared for the evening.
The BBQ experience
is something the hotel is
offering throughout the
summer, even to nonresidents, and I have to
recommend it if you find
yourself in the area.
All-in-all, this was a
weekend to remember.
We spend so much time
these days arranging family holidays and breaks
laden-down with buckets,
spades and everything
else, it is nice to know that
there is at least one place
that, when the budget
allows for it, offers a wonderful and unique mix
of grown-up luxury and
incredible, fun-filled family memories that won’t be
soon forgotten, with the
right staff and attitude to
really make it work.

SITUATED at the foot of the Slieve Bloom
Mountains is Ballyfin, which has long been
admired as one of the most lavish Georgian
homes in Ireland.
It is a small country house hotel that looks
set to make its mark in Ireland and beyond.
Recent renovations carried out at Ballyfin
were undertaken with the aim of returning it as
closely as possible to how it functioned when it
was built.
The house’s magnificent interiors are decorated with Irish art and antiques from around
the world, in the same spirit of refined elegance
that the early house reflected in the 1820s. For
today’s guest, though, formality is blended with
an informal relaxed and easy-going approach.
With just 15 bedrooms, the new hotel really
has all the flavour of a grand private house.
Step outdoors to enjoy 600 acres of private
parkland, a 28-acre lake, ancient woods, follies
and grottoes. The hotel also features two beauty
treatment rooms, a gym and an indoor pool.

22 GAZETTE 16 June 2011

GazetteBUSINESS
BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Aoife Long, La Sirena, Mexican restaurant

ANSWERS TO
YOUR PERSONAL
FINANCE
QUESTIONS
CAN I RUN AWAY TO THE STATES
FROM MY €5,000 DEBT?
Q – I HAVE a long-term €5,000 credit card debt,
and have been unable to make any dent on it
as I am earning little income. I have also just
received my visa to work in the States. What
happens if I don’t pay – will they come after me
in the US? Tommy – Inchicore
A - THERE is a certain element of irresponsibility
creeping in here. You did, after all, spend the money
yourself and, while I empathise with your income
issues here in Ireland, to completely renege on
your debt now is not only morally unfair, but may
come back to haunt you in later years.
Let me explain. The Irish Credit Bureau (ICB),
based in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, has a membership
of nearly 100 financial institutions that record
all their credit transactions in the ICB – slow or
missed payments, legal judgements etc are all
recorded.
That “missed payment” stays on record for five
years, while judgments are there for life!
Just remember, every time a loan is requested,
the first thing the lender does is check with the ICB
on the borrower’s credit history. Simple, really: if
you have a bad record, you don’t get the loan.
Plus, if you apply for the same loan with numerous lenders, those lenders can see the enquiries
coming in, and know that you are doing the rounds
looking for funding.
Therefore, when and if you come back from the
States, and if you look to borrow for whatever
purpose, there may be a little surprise for you
from that lender, as I am sure the credit card debt
– while it will be written off – will have a judgment
put against you, and placed on record.
Those of you who are unsure of your credit
history can contact ICB, send a cheque for €6 and
request your own credit report.
So, the best advice? Do your best to try and
honour your commitments – what goes round,
comes round.
Contact John with your money questions at
jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at
www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the
Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing
director of Money Doctor

Celebrating the best
of fine Mexican fare
AOIFE Long, from La Sirena, Dublin’s
newest Mexican restaurant, grew up in
Malahide.
She went to Loreto College, St
Stephen’s Green, and then on to study
advertising in DIT Aungier Street,
where her intention was to become a
copywriter.
Her favourite food is, of course, Mexican. This love affair started when she
was a waitress and tequila girl in Judge
Roy Beans in the 90s to get her through
college.
Her love of food began when she
spent some time travelling around,
where different cultures of food
inspired her to become more involved
in the food industry.
Aoife decided to move back to Malahide after living abroad and in Dublin
city centre for a few years.
She says that she and her partner
always felt there was a gap in the market for a contemporary Mexican restaurant, combining old-world traditional
Mexican flavours and authenticity with
new-world technique and modern presentation.
La Sirena strives to dispel the misconceptions of over-spiced and stodgy “TexMex” cuisine by showcasing fresh, sustainable, and flavourful dishes that are rooted
in authentic Mexican culture, and rich

Q: What is your guilty music/
TV or movie pleasure?
A: The television show, Snog

Beans

Q: And your first pay cheque?
A: I remember being 15, very
happy, and proud that I earned
my own money

Q: When did you start your
present job?
A: Middle-2010, although it was
Q: What is the best thing
about your job?
A: Seeing a full restaurant with
lots of happy faces after eating
the food

Q: What part of your working
day do you ‘delegate’?
A: I leave the cooking to the
professionals

Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or
email news@gazettegroup.com

culinary history.
The restaurant showcases specialities
from the northern regions of Baja to the
southern states of Oaxaca and the Yucatan, and every where in-between.
The chefs prepare everything in-house,
from sour cream (crema) to delicate and

Q: When you were a kid, what
did you want to be?
A: My own boss

in planning for some time

TELL US YOUR NEWS

Aoife Long, La Sirena Mexican restaurant

play tennis – very badly!

Marry Avoid

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or
Jedward?
A: David Norris, of course
Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/
iPad?
A: A serious mixture of music
for me; lots of heavy, ambient,
jazzy stuff ... you name it - I’ve
got it

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?
A: Pablo Picante, Boojum,
Wahaca and Meztizo London,
to name but a few

Q: What sport do you follow?
A: Nothing in particular, but,

Q: What was your last Tweet/
status update?
A: Starter: Alambres de Chor-

Q: Who would you rather have
dinner with – Enda Kenny or
Dame Edna?
A: Enda Kenny; get him drunk
on margaritas and tequila and
see what he is really like. He
can’t really be as stiff as he
looks – or can he?

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?
A: Unfortunately, due to opening a new business, I am not
spending at the moment, but

when I do spend, I am a big internet shopper – clothes, shoes,
bags and even cookbooks

Q: How many pairs of shoes do
you own?
A: About 30
Q: What was your worst holiday experience?
A: Last year, we went to France,
and I was expecting delicious
food every day. Unfortunately,
I did not get one good meal.
Being a big foodie, I was so
disappointed! It was very unlike my other visits to France,
where I have had the most
delicious meals

Q: Describe your dream
holiday?
A: Sun, sea and a good book
Q: What would be your dream
job?
A: I have my dream job
Q: What do you plan to do
when you retire?
A: Travel, chill, relax and enjoy
my family

16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 23

GazetteMUSIC
MUSIC
Alt-folk duo, The
Pierces, come
of age at last
Q ROB HEIGH

After six years Kate Bush has returned with re-recorded classics on Director’s Cut

REVIEW: KATE BUSH RETURNS TO HER 90S’ RELEASES

Back to the future
with Director’s Cut
Q ROB HEIGH

THE ever-glorious Kate
Bush returns to her mid90s’ canon to refresh the
palette for the music yet
to come...
Awaited like the return
of a comet, Kate Bush
has kept her legions of
fans on tenterhooks in
recent years.
After the initial burst
of activity that saw her
release four albums in
four years, to four albums
in 20 after 1985’s epic
Hounds Of Love, anything that resembles a
note on record is greeted
with massive anticipation.
So, six years after Aerial, another masterpiece
in her canon, and in the
absence of new material,
Kate has returned to her
90s’ releases, The Sensual World and The Red

Shoes, in order to address
the “hard-edged sound”
of the original digital
recordings and re-make
the songs the way her
original vision saw them.
Some tracks are entirely re-recorded - This
Woman’s Work, Rubberband Girl and Moments
of Pleasure - but each
of the 11 tracks has new
vocals, and the deeper
and more mature sound
of that unique instrument
is apparent from the first
“Yes” on Flower Of The
Mountain.
With re-recorded drum
and bass parts, there is
something unquestionably warmer about these
re-recordings, and the
new versions of Lily,
The Red Shoes and Top
Of The City are - heresy warning here - better than their original
versions to these ears, at

least. Whether the world
needed another version
of Deeper Understanding
is questionable though.
A deep love for the
original recordings might
hinder some from entirely
embracing this approach,
but, honestly, anything
with Kate’s presence is to
be treasured.
The box set edition features remastered editions
of the original recordings
of Sensual World and
Red Shoes, and it’s part
of the joy of listening,
to return to these and
comparing their original
incarnations with their
new, retooled versions.
The creative process
has apparently inspired
Kate and there are, apparently, recording sessions
going on in her home
studios right now. Of
course, given her attention to detail and artis-

tic approach, it could be
another six years before
we see any new material.
But if Director’s Cut
has awakened Kate’s
muse once again, it has
to be hailed as a wonderful thing.
The Sensual Walk

Kate fans in Dublin
may be interested in
attending the fourth Sensual Walk in Howth on
Saturday, June 18 from
2pm.
T h i s e ve n t i s a n
excuse for fans of Kate
Bush, James Joyce, or
otherwise, to celebrate
Bloomsday with a stroll
in one of Dublin’s most
spectacular landscapes,
which has particular
relevance this year with
the re-recording of The
Sensual World, with the
Joyce estate’s blessing to
use the original text from

Ulysses on Flower Of The
Mountain.
Attendees will meet up
at the Howth Head car
park before walking to the
summit of Howth Head
for some music, peaches
and seed-cake, followed
by a leisurely cliff-walk
down into the village
of Howth for refreshments. The evening part
of the event will be held
in Odessa in Dublin City
Centre, where the music
and craic continues.
Acts who will be performing in the evening
will include Captain A,
Mike Stevens of Groom
and the Lie-ins, Richer
than Astronauts, Jeroen
Saegeman of Walpurgis
Family and the Prairie
Dawgs
For more information,
contact sean@katebushnews.com or see www.
katebushnews.com.

BROOKLYN based duo, The Pierces, hit their
breakthrough stride with their fourth album,
You & I.
Having built up a legacy in the alt-folk scene
since early 2000, the Pierces’ lack of success
was inversely proportional to their obvious
talent and appeal.
Now, with their fourth album having the
backing of Coldplay’s Guy Berryman as coproducer with Rik Simpson, who has previously been at the mixing desk for Jay-Z, Kasabian and PJ Harvey, the Pierces look set to
achieve the breakout success their delicate,
melodic tunes deserve.
Raised on Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon,
Allison and Catherine Pierce have a strong
melodic sense that weaves through all of the
tracks on You & I.
There are echoes of Aimee Mann’s band, Til
Tuesday, and The Byrds, in the arrangements
and harmonies that wrap you up and hold you
entranced as you listen.
It’s not often that I put an album on repeat
on my generic mp3 player of choice, but I did,
and, before I knew it, I’d listened to You & I
straight through twice.
When things take on a slower tempo, on
tracks like The Good Samaritan, the Pierces’
Alabama roots come through, their southern
drawl seeps through the harmonies and give
the sound a sun-bleached Americana feel.
Elsewhere, the music resembles a late 60s’
Atlantic Records sound, like the best moments
of Dusty In Memphis, and a fine affinity with
the smooth tones of classic 70s’ American
rock like Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac.
There’s clearly a powerful depth of musical
heritage at work here, and the Pierces don’t
hesitate to let their influences inform their
direction in every song, light and shade in
every twist and turn.
You & I is shot through with delicious melodies and laser-sharp harmonies that have you
hooked. This is where the Pierces take off.

Brooklyn based duo, The Pierces

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

GazetteENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
1

GoingOUT
GoingOUT
THE HELIX 01 700 7000
Don McLean
WORLD-famous musician
and singer-songwriter
Don McLean will play The
Helix soon, bringing the
voice of a true legend to
Dublin. Although bestknown for his timeless
tracks, American Pie,
and Vincent (Starry
Starry Night), McLean
has a wide-ranging body
of work, with songs that have delighted listeners
around the world for decades, and all presented in style
by one of America’s most charming musical artists – and
legends. Don plays The Mahony Hall at 8pm on Friday,
June 17, with tickets priced at €45/41.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340
Tarry Flynn
THE Gazette is still presenting the life of a 1930s’ Cavan
farmer for your consideration, with the life of the poet
and dreamer about to conclude in this celebratory fifth
anniversary show at The Mill, which is marking its birthday
in style with this superb production. There’s something for
everyone in this production, with this tale of a simple man
with a complex heart from a bygone era having much to
enjoy for audiences today. This great production runs until
Saturday, June 18, with admission at €18, €15.

PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929
DLR Glasthule Opera Festival
THE Pavilion builds upon its notable cultural credentials
by hosting DLR Glasthule Opera, who are presenting a
number of favourite operas at the theate. Superb Irish
singers will present Verdi’s La Traviata, and Mozart’s
The Magic Flute, building on the success of the opera
company’s previous highly-popular productions. For full
details of these productions, which run until Sunday, June
19, and with admission at €42/45, see paviliontheatre.ie.

Man 1 Bank O
FOR those who prefer more easygoing entertainment,
The Pavilion presents Man 1 Bank O, the amusing and
amazing – but true – story of how one man deposited a
$95,093.35 junk-mail cheque into his bank account, as a
joke, and the saga that ensued after his bank cleared it.
Described as an unbelievable David vs Goliath comedy
(which happens to be true), the international smash-hit
show by Patrick Combs plays on Wednesday, June 22, at
8pm, with tickets from €12.80 to €18.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622
Zocorro Rose of Tralee
THE classic, timeless – and some would say, dull – world
of The Rose of Tralee is shaken down by this tale of a
would-be Spanish Rose, Zocorro, who’s determined to
talk about loving children, working in hospitals, and doing
and saying whatever she needs to in order to claim the
crown, and win a Volvo. However, Spanish passion and
a flair with the facts may not be quite enough to see her
take the prize, with some unexpected prizes along the
way ... Having enjoyed great success and acclaim at a
variety of festivals, this satirical alternative look at the
much-loved Irish institution is sure to be a hit at Draiocht,
where it runs on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 17, at
2pm and 8.15pm. Tickets are priced at €14/€10 conc.

The Illegals
STAYING with Draiocht, The Illegals are set to shake off
any weekend sleepiness with their tribute to The Eagles
and Fleetwood Mac, featuring Eurovision singer Niamh
Kavanagh. A busy band will join Niamh in creating an
unforgettable night for fans of these American giants,
showcasing the astounding skill of this memorable tribute
band. The show starts at 8pm in the Main Auditorium on
Saturday, June 18 at 8pm, with tickets costing €20/€16
conc.

Perhaps Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) would be less inclined to take the mysterious, floating magic ring of a dying space alien if he thought
of the consequences of joining an intergalactic police force of do-gooders facing an all-powerful enemy ...

Not a torching movie
Kate says you won’t find any moving thoughts on the human
condition in this very silly, and popcorn-light, superhero film
Q KATE CROWLEY

REGULAR readers – oh,
please, let there be such a
thing – will be well aware
that, for some weeks now,
I’ve been championing
the return of Mel Gibson
to cinema screens, via his
meisterpiece, The Beaver
– the haunting tale of an
emotionally traumatised
man, who communicates
through the world via
a beaver hand puppet,
and –
Wait! Come back!
Tragically, although Mel’s
release finally jimmies
open the back door of a
few cinemas this week,
ready to sneak onto a few
unwary screens here and
there (possibly closely followed by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalpyse),
quality control issues
– and the fact that it’s a
Mel Gibson film about
a beaver hand puppet –
force me to turn reluctantly instead towards
The Green Lantern.
Peering through the

OUR VERDICT:
FOR once, Kate almost enjoys a film, as she finds The Green Lantern
to be so ridiculously silly, she can’t quite dislike it as much as it
possibly deserves. So, as far as superhero films about men in tights
battling all-powerful, planet-conquering superaliens – who, err, can
still be defeated by a puny human – this Lantern’s all right, and will
probably light up box office receipts well enough, for a while ...

gloom with my stylish
new glasses – which don’t
remotely resemble two
coke bottles tied together
with rusty wire, regardless of what my daughter,
dear Crowleyetta, insists
– I spy a well-polished
tribute to the iconic character of the same name.
(Or, so I’m told, as I’d
easily get Batman and
Superman’s capes mixed
up in the wash, and not
really know any better.)
A long time ago, in a
galaxy far, far away ... the
Green Lanterns were
created; an intergalactic
police force of do-gooders, formed to keep watch

over all the intelligent
planets, checking that
the indicator lights of any
passing spaceships were
working, and generally
keep an eye out for any
bad guys/aliens.
Harnessing the natural
forces of the universe to
do good, via their magic
green rings (I’m paraphrasing, folks), the Lanterns are ever-vigilant,
and entirely alien – until,
that is, trouble breaks out,
courtesy of an intergalactic baddie, and a mortally
injured Green Lantern
crashlands on modern
Earth.
Hal Jordan (Rey-

nolds) is chosen by the
dying Green Lantern’s
ring as his replacement;
the plucky pilot being
selected as being good
and worthy enough to
join the vast ranks of the
Lanterns.
It’s not long before
Hal’s hot-footed it across
the galaxy, courtesy of his
amazing new ring – and
his natty new Green Lantern – to the Lanterns’
home planet, where, as
the first human to be
accepted into the ranks,
he has to prove himself.
Under the ever-watchful guise of ... err ... um...
sorry folks, I’m generally
hopeless at remembering aliens’ names, so let’s
just say Mark Strong and
Geoffrey Rush – Hal
commences his training
to be a new Lantern.
However, for every
force in the universe,
there is an opposing one,
and the Lanterns’ newest bright-eyed recuit has
joined the ranks just as
their greatest enemy has

arisen – Parallax, a swirling, bad-tempered mass
of negativity (not entirely
unlike Mr Crowley, when
asked to cut the grass on
Sundays).
Not only that, but a
pesky scientist back on
Earth (Sarsgaard) is also
creating trouble, thanks
to his unusual new powers granted by the crashlanded Green Lantern’s
wreckage.
So, despite being an
amateur, Hal has to find
the power within to rise
to the challenge and –
well, you can figure the
rest out yourselves.
Forget any thoughts
of lashings and lashings
of angst – oh, the angst!
– which have soaked too
many films lately like
cheap vinegar, as The
Green Lantern is entirely,
blatantly and enthusiastically silly.
I can’t take to the foolishness of an expressive
beaver, but this film’s silliness is on a whole new –
and acceptable – level ...

16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

Microsoft’s smart update plans
ADAM MAGUIRE

IN A world increasingly
dominated by tablets and
smartphones, Windows
7 – the current operating
system from Microsoft –
is starting to look a little
old-fashioned.
As a result, it should be
no surprise to learn that
a successor is on the way,
and initial details and features have recently
been made public.

What is it?
An operating system is the
software layer
that lets you use
a computer without
knowing complex code –
basically, it’s what creates
the icons and graphics
you see on-screen all the
time.

so will work on tablets, as
well as desktop computers.

Windows 8 – as it is
called, for now – is the
one Microsoft will launch
next.
It will follow in the
footsteps of the
likes of Windows 98,
XP, and
Windows
7, and
will be
heavily
inspired by
touch-based
devices that are on the
rise today – designed to
be used by hand gestures
just as much as by keyboard and mouse, and

What does that
mean?
While you might be
used to those little icons
and loads of menus at the
moment, Windows 8 will
use bigger tiles as part of
its main menu.
This will mean that
applications will sit like
squares and rectangles on
the screen, and will often
show off live information,
such as details of updates
on Facebook, or news
stories from your favourite websites.
The idea is that you, as
a user, can customise the
tiles so it shows information you want to see at
a glance. Basically, the
device will work more like
a smartphone does now
– specifically, Windows’

own Phone 7 platform.

So, the old desktop
format is gone?
Not completely. Microsoft realises that some
people like the way things
are, so it will have the old
interface underneath –
for those who wish to
can stick with that, if they
want.
When is it available?
There is no set date just
yet, but predictions are
that the platform will not
debut for another year at
least, most likely appearing before Christmas,
2012. Of course, a year
is a long time in technology, and there is a lot here
that could change in the
meantime.
Indeed, a lot of Windows 7’s most ambitious
features were reigned
back before it launched,

and the same could happen here. That will only
become clear when Windows 8 – or whatever it
eventually becomes – is
put on the shelves.

Vodafone 858 Smart
As one of the neatest
and smallest of Android
phones to hit the market,
the Vodafone 858 Smart
is a great entry-level and
child-friendly device.
With much of the
smartphone market a
bit of an arms race today,
with screen sizes and
processor speeds going
up only, the Vodafone 858
Smart bucks the trend.
The device has a miniscule 2.8-inch screen, a
tiny frame, and a fairly
average bit of tech powering the whole thing.
That is not to suggest
that everything about this
device is second-class.

It runs on Android 2.2
(one of the newest versions of the software), has
a fairly decent 2MP camera, and all the connectivity yo
you
ou
would need,
eed
d,
including
Bluetooth
and WiFi.
But the
he
truth is that
a
at
the smalll
screen
will be an
issue for
a lot of
people.
It will
be hard
to text or
type on if your
fingers are in any way big,
and viewing websites and
pictures is not particularly easy if you are used
to bigger devices.
However, if you fit that
category, this phone is

not for you – it is really
designed for the low-function and young market.
This is an entry-level
device for Android, or
something
so
for teens
a n d
tweens
on
a
budget
to use.
To that
extent,
this
e
does
the
d
job,
jo
o bringing
in
n smartphone
style
ph
h
to a currently
underserved
und
d
area
a of the
market.
The Vodafone 858
Smart is available for
€39.99 on pre-pay.
Visit teic.ie for the latest tech news, reviews
and views.

GAZETTE

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

BLANCHclassifieds

BATHROOMS

To advertise, call us now on 01 60 10 240
Email us at sales@gazettegroup.com

CLASSES/LEARNING
SEWING CLASSES/
CURTAIN MAKING
Curtain and Roman
Blind making service at
competitive prices. We
reline and re-pleat all
curtains, full selection of
poles and rails available.
Beginners and Improvers
6 week Sewing Classes on
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Furnishings resuming
in September. Half Day
workshops also resuming

in September. Contact us
at www.sewgreat.ie or
www.pressxpress.ie, call 01
8227650 or email info@
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FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS
Coping with family life
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PLANNING NOTICE

PLANNING NOTICE

FINGAL COUNTY
COUNCIL
I, Paul Brady, 16 Cherryfield Park, Clonsilla,
Dublin 15 intend to
apply for planning
permission at above
address for a single storey extension together
with new entrance
to rear. The planning
application may be
inspected or purchased
at a fee not exceeding
the reasonable cost of
making a copy at the
offices of the planning
authority during its public opening hours and a
submission or observation may be made to
the Authority in writing
on payment of a prescribed fee (€20) within
the period of five weeks
beginning on the date of
receipt by the Authority of this application.

I Lorraine Farrell intend to
apply for Planning Permission for a development at
this site; 2 Sheepmore Grove,
Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
The development will consist of:
Planning Permission is sought
for the erection of a single storey
extension to front, side and rear of
existing dwelling, consisting of a
new playroom, bedroom with en
suite and new kitchen to rear and
all associated site works. The Planning Application may be inspected
or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making
a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public
opening hours of 9.30 - 16.30
Monday - Friday at: Fingal County Council, Fingal County Hall,
Main Street, Swords, Fingal,
Co. Dublin (to inspect Planning
Applications on all lands except
those lands to the west of the N2)
Fingal County Council, Grove
Road, Blanchardstown, Fingal,
Dublin 15. (to inspect Planning
Applications on all lands west of
the N2)A submission or observation in relation to the Application
may be made in writing to the
Planning Authority on payment
of a fee of €20, within the period
of 5 weeks, beginning on the
date of receipt by Fingal County
Council of the Application.
12872

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16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:
Cian Curley on his
comeback to the
European Tour: Page 29

NEXT week is National
Bike Week, an intiative
to try to get the country
cycling, and with the Tour
De France looming, the
success of local cycling
clubs and the very successful reception to the
Dublin smart bikes initiative, Dublin seems to be
the place to get on your
bike, both for fitness and
for competitiveness.
As part of National
Bike Week, Wednesday,

June 22 is Dublin Bike to
Work Day, and 98FM DJ
Claire Solan is inviting all
people working within the
city to participate in a fun
and free leisurely lunchtime cycle, which takes
place at 1pm from Grand
Canal Square.
More and more people
are choosing to travel by
bike into the city, with
numbers increasing by
one-third in the last ten
years. Dublin City Council’s aim is to encourage all
employers and employees

throughout the city to take
part in this year’s event.
Speaking to GazetteSport last week, Claire
said: “The initiative is
a chance to take a bike
onto the street on, hopefully, a sunny day, starting
and finishing at Grand
Canal Dock. For someone who might be commuting in the city, who is
sat in an office and keen
to do something lively, it’s
a great idea. And it’s great
to get back on a bike if
you haven’t been on one

98FM’s Claire Solan at Grand Canal Dock at the launch of the National Bike Week

for years.”
The focus is also on the
health benefits for participants, and it is reported
that about 40% of commutes to work in Dublin
are less than 5km, which
most people could easily cycle this distance in
about 20 minutes.

“Most people would
be like me, driving short
distances to get to work,”
said Claire. “It’s not good
for you, not good for your
car, and it would be a saving in all manner of ways
for you to cycle to work
at least a few days in the
week.

“There are new cycle
lanes appearing all over
the city, and there are
moves to make the city
more cycle-friendly.
“The Dublin smart
bikes initiative is one of
the most successful rollouts of the campaign
across Europe. It is huge-

ly popular, so obviously,
people are interested in
cycling a bit more regularly. Cycling is good for the
environment, good for fitness levels, and it doesn’t
cost a thing”
To register for the event,
log on to www.dublincitycycling.ie.

28 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

GazetteSport
Sport
Tag Rugby

The team known as the Odd Shaped Balls get ready to take to the pitch

A try for the Ruggerbandits

Coolmine Tag

Opening
night a
big win
GRAND total of 30 teams played 17
matches at the opening night of the tag
rugby season at Coolmineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ashbrook
grounds recently.
Some teams played two 20-minute matches, while others were happy to just play just
one, and all the try-scorers celebrated their
points on the board in some style.
For some teams, like the interTagionals, it
was their first time playing together, but all
the players were on form on the night, learning new skills and getting involved in the
sporting and the social side of the event as
well, with a barbecue and ice-cream stall on
hand to feed the hungry competitors.
For more information on getting involved
in tag rugby in Dublin, see www.tagrugby.ie.

The Power Rangers try to get around the SuperInjunctions

The dapper Castleknock Raiders

A

Hayes Hoohas manage to offload before the BMS Blanchardstown tackles

Symantec SES Assassins in motion

16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

in association with

Cian on the
comeback trail

FastSport

Back injury put paid to his start on the European
quintet named
Tour, but Newlands’ man, Cian Curley, is pitching Hermes
in Ireland senior squad
for a strong return to golf, says STEPHEN FINDLATER

FIVE months out of
the game, Cian Curley
is keen to make up for
lost time on the Euro
Pro Tour as he looks to
finally get his professional career in gear.
The Newlands’ man
joined the paid ranks
back in September following his victory in the
East of Ireland open but
lasted just one tournament before a back ligament injury placed him
on the remedial list.
It stunted his momentum but a fine run in Pro
Tour qualifying school –
taking a second and fifth
place finish – has put
his ambitions of reaching the European Tour

proper very much back
into focus.
And the success of his
regular playing partner
from his amateur days,
Shane Lowry, has given
Curley the confidence
to push on in the coming months.
Just two short years
since his Baltray success, Lowry was making his majors debut at
the US Open this week,
and Curley says it is a
source of inspiration, a
feeling reinforced by his
appearance at last year’s
3 Irish Open.
He told the Gazette:
“The experience itself
just gives you a taste.
You want to get out onto

Sinead McCarthy in action against Australia

the Tour as quick as you
can. The main thing I
took from it was seeing
the standard and knowing you’re not that far
away from it.
“When you’re grow-

also attend qualifying
school for the European
Tour later this year.
It offers a glimpse of
the big time, the Sky
Sports cameras covering the latter stages of

--------------------------------------------------------

‘You want to get out onto the Tour
as quick as you can. The main
thing I took from the Irish Open
was seeing the standard and
knowing I wasn’t that far away’
--------------------------------------------------------

ing up, you think ‘these
guys are so good, how
am I ever going to be
that good?’ But when
you’re out there you
realise, you’re not that
far away and that you
can hit the ball as well
as any of them.
“I played a lot of the
same representative
teams as Shane, social
golf with him, too. It’s
the same thing as I said
about the Irish Open.
“I don’t know if intimidating is the right word
but it definitely helps
you think you’re doing
the right things, playing at the right level. At
this stage, you do need
a bit of luck and play
well at the right times.
Shane played well at the
right time and now look
where he is.”
For the moment, Curley must bide his time
on the Pro Tour, a third
tier of competition that
offers an avenue for its
top five to a Challenger
Tour card, while he will

each event, and there
is a sense that Curley’s
career is kicking on after
his injury mishap.
Curley embarks on
a hectic schedule this
week, taking in two
tournaments in Ireland
and two in England in
the next month before
a one-week break and
then another block of
four tournaments.
Strong results there
and the Newlands’ man
will be in fine shape to
move up the rankings
while opportunity may
knock if he can snag an
invite to a Challenger
event or the Irish Open,
once again.
“I’m back now and
got my full card on the
Euro ProTour, played a
few events and form is
good and it’s going well
so far.
“But it’s really only
kicking off next week
with four events in a row,
and eight in the next
nine weeks – the main
chunk of the season.

“Getting injured was
tough. Especially, in
my first event, I was just
excited to be playing my
first pro event.
“At the time, I was a bit
devastated. I had plans
and it disrupted them
because I was basically
just sitting around and it
got pretty boring.
“It made the winter a
bit longer but at least it
was the winter time that
it happened and not in
the middle of the season.”
The decision to
go professional was
cemented in the wake of
his “break-out” success,
taking the 2010 East of
Ireland Open.
It came reasonably
late by modern standards but the Lucan resident was keen to be in
the right frame of mind
for the big leap.
“It was the first big
national event I won.
I’d competed a lot and
been close in a good few
events but never finished
them off. But when I finished that one last year,
it was a great feeling to
get the monkey off my
back.
“I wanted to turn pro.
Some say it’s quite late
to turn pro at almost 25,
but it was perfect time.
“I’d reached the top of
the amateur game in Ireland and got a win under
the belt. It wasn’t really
a conscious decision to
wait until I’d got the win,
but I felt it was the right
time.”

FIVE Hermes players have been named in the
Irish women’s senior hockey team for the FIH
Champion’s Challenge in Belfield this week, a
tournament that brings eight of the world’s top
20 sides to Dublin.
Goalkeeper Emma Gray, Sinead McCarthy,
Aine Connery, Audrey O’Flynn and Lisa Jacob
are named in the side along with Loreto pair,
Nicci Daly and Nikki Symmons, and Old Alex
duo, Pamela Smithwick and Shirley McCay.
The tournament gets underway on Saturday
and runs for eight days.
At U-18 level, meanwhile, Mount Anville’s
Aisling Naughton and Lisa McCarthy are part
of the Irish U-18 side for next month’s European championships. Alexandra College are
represented by Emily Beatty while Holy Child’s
Emma Russell also gets the nod.

Newlands’
Hogan added
to GUI select
NEWLANDS’ golf
club’s Andrew Hogan
has been named in
the list of five players
selected by the Golfing
Union of Ireland to
compete in the 116th
British Amateur
Championship at
Hillside and Hesketh
Golf Clubs from this
week.
He is included
alongside Paul Cutler
(Portstewart), Alan
Dunbar (Rathmore),
Andrew Hogan
(Newlands), Dermot
McElroy (Ballymena)
and Reeve Whitson
(Mourne).
They take part in
a field of 288 worldranked amateur
golfers from 35
countries competing

for the coveted trophy,
a place in this year’s
Open Championship
and an invitation to
the 2012 Masters
Tournament.

Roche forced
to quit finale of
Criterium
Dundrum cyclist
Nicolas Roche
bowed out of
the Criterium du
Dauphine after
he was involved
in a crash on the
mountain stage to
Les Gets last week.
The event, seen as a
precursor to the Tour
de France and an
indicator of form for
La Grande Boucle,
saw Roche in fifth on
the first mountain
stage and was hoping
for a strong finish to
the event.

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 16 June 2011

GazetteSport
Sport
FastSport

Stompe the oche:
Darts legend coming
to Dublin next month
WORLD-class Darts comes to Dublin on

July 1 when Holland’s Co Stompe comes
to play an exhibition match at The Tap on
North King Street.
“The Matchstick” will take part in a
question and answer session, and will
make a draw for special prizes on the
night. Stompe has risen to fame on the
oche after defeating Phil Taylor in Germany in 2008, and has logged a wide range of
tournament victories.
For more information, call 01 6144855
or 087 1638753.

Locals shine for Dubs
but Cork U-14s prevail
ST BRIGID’S Niamh O’Neill and Aoibheann Lynch (pictured above) both played
their part for Dublin in their impressive run
to the U-14 ladies football All-Ireland final,
but were unable to turn the Cork tide at the
last hurdle.
The Jackies fell 5-12 to 3-5 to an impressive rebelette force at Birr last weekend who
were hot favourites going into the tie but
only pulled truly clear in the closing quarter.
The signs were ominous right from the
throw-in as Cork came marauding in packs.
Two minutes on the clock and Cork led by
1-1 to no score.
And Kate Leneghen should have goaled
seconds later but Dublin’s Shauna O’Hara
denied her with a brilliant double-save.
It took a little while but Amy Conroy
opened Dublin’s account with a well-taken
point in the tenth minute before skipper
Emma Colgan went on a surging solo run
and her high, lobbing ball from 30 metres
ended in the net. Suddenly it was game on.
But the warning signs were still there,
however, and a run of 1-3 without reply in
the space of three minutes had Cork leading
by 2-4 to 1-1 after 17 minutes.
Points from Emma Byrne, Fiona Terry and
a free by Megan Morrissey stemmed the tide
somewhat, 2-5 to 1-4 at the interval.
And they started the second half strong
when Conroy set up Megan Morrissey who
took her point well. The wind was knocked
out of the comeback sails almost instantly
once again when Megan Connolly finished
off a flowing move to goal.
A Connolly penalty dinged the post in
what could have been a killer blow and it
opened up a serious lifeline when Conroy
went straight up the pitch to net with a driven effort to leave just one between the sides.
There were chances to level but Cork
regrouped, kept their defence tight and ran
up 2-6 without response in the closing stages
to run clear, scoring 1-3 in injury time.

Clonsilla side, St Ciaran’s, have consolidated their place in the LFL in their debut season

Ciaran’s begin journey
PETER CARROLL
sport@gazettegroup.com

ST CIARAN’S FC of
Clonsilla have made
unprecedented progress
in their debut season in
the O’Neill’s Leinster
Football League, reaching two finals and keeping themselves afloat in
a league in which they
struggled in the early part
of the season.
John Hoare, team
manager, formed the side
last summer, along with
assistant manager, Italo
Cassoni, who both called
on the knowledge of their
fathers to help with the
club. The name of the club
is a tribute to Hoare’s old
parish in Hartstown.
The team made it to

the finals of the FIFA
Fair Play Cup, where they
faced Shamrock Celtic
of Coolock. The first leg
was played on Ciaran’s
home ground. The experienced men of Celtic got
the better of the young
team, winning the game
4-0, despite the efforts of
the Clonsilla side putting
their skilled opponents to
the test.
Between the first leg
of the tie and the second,
Ciaran’s had the lowly
Dynamo Dublin to play
in the final of the Tom
Watkins Cup. Dynamo
showed fiery determination that belied their poor
showing in the league.
Again, the Ballyoulster
side had the age advantage over the Ciaran’s and

the clash proved to be a
classic encounter. With
both teams deadlocked
3-3 at full time, extra time
was needed to separate
the sides.
Dy namo attacked
aggressively from the first
and fired home a quick
double, leaving the Clonsilla team an uphill battle
that proved to impossible
to surmount on the day.
The score of 5-3 was
the end result, and,
however disappointed
Ciaran’s were, they had to
focus their energy on the
second leg of FIFA Fair
Play Cup. To add to the
4-0 deficit, striker Gary
Carr, who had scored
three hattricks in the last
six games of the league
campaign, was ruled out

due to an injury suffered
against Dynamo.
Stephen Murtagh was
put in Carr’s place and
the Ashfield man had an
outstanding game, constantly putting the Celtic
defence under pressure.
The score finished 2-1
to Ciaran’s, but it could
have been much more
had it not been for the
performance of the opposition keeper.
Murtagh got himself on
the score sheet in the 88th
minute after a sublime
cross from David Murray,
striking a beautiful curled
shot off the right boot to
bring the game level.
Ciaran’s second came
in the 92nd minute when
Padraig McGrattan finished off a good spell of

pressure for the Clonsilla
side.
Manager Hoare highlighted his intentions for
next season.
“I’m delighted with the
lads. Reaching two cup
finals is a showing of the
talent we have.
“ I wo u l d n ’t h ave
believed it at Christmas,
when we’re struggling to
keep the team together,
that we would be here.
“We’ll look to challenge for the league next
year, hopefully get a few
fresh faces in, and keep
pursuing the cups that we
showed such good form
in this year.”
For information on
joining St. Ciaran’s, contact John Hoare on 085
715 3627.

16 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

in association with

IHC GROUP 1: COMMERCIALS CLOSED OUT

.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD
ST BRIGID’S
ST BRIGID’S GA A sends it s sin-

Egin Jenson in the 60*30 All-Ireland

cere sympathies to the family and

hardball final this Thursday at 8pm

friends of Brian Lenihan TD.

in Roscommon.

Brian was a great supporter of

Julie Long Memorial one-wall

the club and his support and great

tournament on this Saturday in

work on behalf of the club will

Russell Park.

always be remembered and appreciated by all club members.
Hard luck to Ken Nyhan and the

Junior hur ler s r e cor ded two

Dublin U-14 girls who lost out to

important wins over Finbar’s and

Cork in their All-Ireland football

Naomh Mearnog.

final. Well done to our respresenta-

Best of luck to Daire and Alan

tives Aoibheann Lynch, Katie Nyhan,

against Galway on Saturday in Tul-

Ann-Marie Troy and Niamh O’Neill.

lamore.

Club family day takes place all day

Jun C footballers face Ballyboden

on Saturday, with the mini leagues

on Thurs at 7.30pm in Russell Park.

finals on, too. A great day in store.
The club is organising a bus to
Tullamore for Dublin’s semi-final vs
Galway on Saturday. The bus is €15
return.
St Peregrine’s held off the challenge of Commercials at Blakestown Road last week

TWO teams vying for
automatic promotion to
the semi-final stages — St
Peregrine’s and Commercials — met in a crucial
game in the Intermediate Championship group
stages at the Blakestown
Road ground.
P e r e g r i n e ’s w e r e
unbeaten in their first two
outings, while Commercials had also won their
opening two games, and
both were pushing for the
two championship points
to give them the edge in
their last two games.
Dave O’Carroll had a
great start to the game,
putting away the opening goal on the 15-minute
mark. From there, Killian Burns took control,
putting a few points over
the bar with some great
movement on and off the
sliotar.
O’Carroll scored
another goal in before
Commercials scored

three unanswered frees.
Then came a special
score from Colm Foley,
showing some fantastic technique when he
received the sliotar with
his back to the goal.
Foley then gave the ball
a fine smack over his left
shoulder, and, in doing
so, scored the point of the
day.
Peregrine’s made the
best of the wind advantage in the first half, and
left the field at half time
with a seven-point lead
with the score at 2-7 to
0-6.
The Blanchardstown
side didn’t take their foot
of the gas in the second
half, having a great spell
of pressure during the
opening ten minutes.
Although they held
the play, they could not
convert any of their scoring opportunities, putting
four shots wide, while
Commercials got back a
point of their own.
The Rathcoole side got
their first goal by way of
a lucky swipe by one of
their forwards when the
ball broke along the Per-

egrine’s square, leaving
the score at 2-8 to 1-7.
After a well-taken point
from Fiachra Burns, Commercials were fortunate in
putting away their second
goal.
A long pass from the
midfield was played
towards the Peregrine’s
goal and connected with
the post. The sliotar then
landed right in front of
the Commercials’ forward
who put it into the net.
Another fine point was
scored by Keith Manely,
who caught a massive
80-metre pass from the
Peregrine’s puck-out
before playing it onto
Ciaran Sullivan, who put
the ball over to finish off a
fine move for the Blanch
side.
Peregrine’s third goal
came from Jimmy MacInaugh, when David
McGovern collected the
ball in midfield and broke
toward the Commercials’
goal and played a fine
hand pass to MacInaugh,
who finished the move to
put the score at 3-10 to
2-7.
To finish off the Per-

egrine’s scoring, Killian
Burns put two frees over,
before Declan Coady
clinched the last two
points.
Commercials got up
the field late on to score
a well-taken goal that
would be nothing more
than a consolation.
“There were two lucky
goals from Commercials
in the game, and I couldn’t
put fault on any of the
lads. Brendan Goodwin
and Liam McCarthy have
been fantastic this season,
really controlling their
two lines,” said Peregrine’s
manager, Tom Doyle.
Peregrine’s next outing is against bottom of
the pile Fingallians, and a
win would nearly guarantee them qualification for
the semi-finals.
“We’re very confident
going into the Fingallians game, we’ll be trying
to sure things up as far
as qualification is concerned. If we can see off
Fingallians then the Towers’ result should take
care of itself, we’ve been
unbeaten in our last four
games at Blakestown.”

U-13A footballers beat Plunkett’s
in the league.

9571 or put your name on the bus
list in the bar.
Best of luck to Eoin Kennedy and

Hard luck to Jack Kelly, Dabhach
Dineen and Aodhran and the Dublin
Juniors on their loss to Kildare.
Best of luck to all students who
commence their Junior and Leaving Cert.
Club lotto takes place in Russell
Park this Thursday with a jackpot
of €14,000.

WESTMANSTOWN GAELS/GARDA
INTERMEDIATES had good work-

mas Davis and face Parnell’s on

out in challenge last week against

June 22, also at home, in a cham-

Kilcock, coming out on top 2-7 to

pionship fixture, both starting at

0-9. Good to see James O’Donnell

7:30pm. Ladies training continues

and Brian Daly making their return

on Mondays and Fridays at 7pm.

after injury.
Busy schedule this week with two
league fixtures away to St Finian’s

The hurling weekend saw the U-8s
visit Commercials in Rathcoole on
Saturday.

and home to St Brigid’s on Sunday

Scrap Saturday is scheduled for

at 11am. Junior 1s also have two

June 18 from 9.30am. For further

fixtures this week, both at home.

information, visi t h t tp: //w w w.

On Tuesday night we host Parnell’s,

westmanstowngaels.ie.

visiting for a league match on Friday night at 7:30pm.
Junior 2s are out next Sunday,
June 19 at 3pm at home in the league
against Good Counsel.
Ladies have a challenge at home
on Wednesday night against Tho-

Buster draw tickets are also on
sale now too with draw taking place
on Family Fun Day on June 25.
Tickets for Dublin v Kildare on
Sunday 26th June can be ordered
online at http://www.westmansstowngaels.ie.

DOUBLES are hard enough to come by but to do
so with nine men is an even tougher ask. Indeed,
it proved just beyond Mountview United at a
drenched AUL Complex when they were cruelly
denied the Paddy Cole Memorial Cup on penalties last Sunday in a helter-skelter tie in which
they were two men down with the guts of the second half still to play.
Johnny Gunnery’s calm finish and a rebounded
effort from Adam Jackson had given the Dublin
15 side a 2-0 lead soon after the interval.
But Chris Barbour’s second yellow card began
a downward spiral. The aftermath of that dismissal led to a couple of changes, using up the last of
United’s substitutions.
Injury to Kieran Redmond, moments after he

was introduced with what looked like a dislocated shoulder, meant they had 20 minutes to play
out down two players.
By that stage, Sheriff already had one back
through David Fagan in the 66th minute and
immediately after the reduction to nine, strike
partner Thomas Meehan headed home six minutes later.
But they held out for extra-time, Gunnery and
Jackson both going close to nicking a late winner,
while Fagan dinged a post with one of the last
acts of normal time.
Extra-time was equally fraught but the
Mountview held out, given time to catch their
breath too as referee Liam McGuirk succumbed
to the pace of the game, tying up with cramp.
But penalties proved to be Sheriff’s friend as
they won the shoot-out, ending what would have
been one of the most unlikely of successes.
Mountview were already underdogs going into
the tie but their promotion to AUL Senior Saturday – where Sheriff were title contenders last term
– saw them enter the tie in confident form.

They started brightly though Barbour – who
lined out for the Republic of Ireland amateur
side a day earlier – was being tightly shadowed,
an altercation with man-marker leading to both
being booked.
But his side took the lead through his persistence, nicking the ball on the right flank, squaring
to the stylish Richie Coates who picked out the
on-rushing Gunnery for 1-0.
Sheriff were bossing play in the second half as
they sought a way back but were further behind
when Coates again arrowed a fine pass to Jackson – a half-time sub. His initial shot was wellsaved by Ger Kelly but the second phase skidded
behind him and Jackson leapt at the chance to
slide the ball in.
Barbour’s dismissal came within a minute,
though, and despite the brilliant efforts of Robbie Cunningham, Jim Leslie, Michael Byrne and
Stephen Byrne, they were unable to hold out all
the way to the finish.
Its was hard lines as they bravely fought to the
last but penalties proved their undoing.